Real examples of best practices for recycling paper products

Everyday examples of best practices for recycling paper products

Let’s start with real life, not theory. When people ask for examples of best practices for recycling paper products, they usually mean, “What do I do with this exact thing in my hand?” So here are some common situations and how to handle them.

Picture a typical week:

• You order takeout and end up with a cardboard pizza box.
• Your online shopping spree leaves you with shipping boxes full of paper and plastic.
• You clean your desk and find old notebooks, envelopes, and receipts.
• Your kids bring home a mountain of school papers and art projects.

Now, some examples include:

• Pizza box with greasy bottom, clean lid: Tear off the greasy bottom and throw it in the trash (or compost it if your local program accepts it). Recycle the clean lid after flattening it.
• Shipping box with plastic air pillows and tape: Pop and trash (or store-drop-off) the plastic, remove big strips of tape and labels, then flatten and recycle the box.
• Envelopes with plastic windows: Recycle them as-is in most U.S. curbside programs; the small plastic windows are usually filtered out at the mill.
• Spiral notebooks: Remove the metal spiral if you can. Recycle the paper pages. If you can’t remove the spiral, check your local program—many still accept them.
• Receipts: Most thermal receipts should go in the trash, not the recycling, because of coatings and chemicals.
• Kids’ artwork: Plain paper with crayon or colored pencil? Recycle. Glitter, foam stickers, or paint that feels plasticky? Trash.

These are simple, real-world examples of best practices for recycling paper products that you can copy without memorizing a rulebook.

Why these examples of best practices for recycling paper products matter

Paper is one of the most recycled materials in the world. In the U.S., the paper recycling rate has hovered around 68% in recent years, according to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). That’s good, but it can be better—and contamination is still a big problem.

When people toss greasy, wet, or plastic-laminated paper into the recycling bin, it can:

• Lower the quality of recycled paper pulp.
• Jam machinery at materials recovery facilities (MRFs).
• Cause entire loads of recycling to be landfilled.

That’s why focusing on clear, real examples of best practices for recycling paper products is so helpful. Instead of just saying “keep it clean and dry,” we spell out what that actually looks like in your kitchen, office, and mailroom.

For up-to-date guidance, your local program is king, but national sources like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer solid basics on paper recycling and contamination: https://www.epa.gov/recycle.

Kitchen and dining: examples of best practices for recycling paper products

The kitchen is where paper recycling gets messy—literally. Food and liquids are the main enemies here.

Food packaging: the best examples from everyday life

Here are some kitchen-focused examples of best practices for recycling paper products:

• Cereal boxes and dry food boxes (pasta, crackers, etc.): Empty all food, remove inner plastic bags, flatten the box, and recycle. A little food dust is fine; chunks of pasta are not.
• Paper egg cartons: If they’re clean and dry, recycle. If they’re soaked or moldy, trash or compost.
• Paper grocery bags: Remove receipts, plastic handles, or metal grommets. Then recycle or reuse as book covers, gift wrap, or compost bin liners.
• Paper towel and toilet paper tubes: These are almost always recyclable. Flatten them before tossing in the bin.

The tricky stuff: pizza boxes, napkins, and takeout containers

Some of the best teaching examples include the items that confuse people the most:

• Pizza boxes: If the entire box is soaked with grease and cheese, it usually belongs in the trash or compost. If only part is greasy, tear off the clean sections and recycle those. This is a textbook example of how to keep contamination down without giving up on recycling.
• Paper napkins and paper towels: Even if they started as paper, once they’re used (especially with food, cleaning products, or bodily fluids), they are not good candidates for recycling. Trash or compost them if your area allows.
• Paper coffee cups: Many disposable cups are lined with plastic. Some cities have special programs for them, but most curbside systems in the U.S. do not accept them. The paper sleeve and cardboard carrier, however, almost always can be recycled.

These kitchen scenarios are some of the best real-life examples of best practices for recycling paper products, because they show that “it’s paper” is not the only test—you have to think about coatings, food, and moisture.

Home office & school: examples include mail, documents, and packaging

Your home office and mailbox are overflowing with paper opportunities. Here’s how to handle them.

Mail and office paper: clean, flat, and ready to go

Some of the best examples of easy wins:

• Printer and notebook paper: Clean, dry, and free of plastic covers? Straight into the recycling bin.
• Envelopes with plastic windows: As mentioned earlier, most programs accept them. Remove any thick plastic cards, key fobs, or magnets first.
• Junk mail and catalogs: Remove plastic wrap or poly mailers, then recycle the paper. Staples are generally fine.
• File folders and manila envelopes: Remove metal fasteners or large clips when possible. Recycle the paper.

Shredded paper: a classic example of “it depends”

Shredded paper is a great example of something that feels recyclable but can cause problems. The tiny pieces can:

• Fall through sorting equipment.
• Blow around facilities, creating mess and contamination.

Some programs accept shredded paper only if it’s in a clear paper bag or labeled paper envelope. Others don’t accept it at all in curbside bins. Check your local recycling rules (often listed on city or county websites). If they don’t want it, consider composting shredded, non-glossy paper at home.

School papers and kids’ projects

Real-world examples of best practices for recycling paper products from family life:

• Worksheets and notebook pages: Recycle once you’ve removed plastic covers or bindings.
• Construction paper: Many programs accept it, but very dark or heavily dyed paper may be excluded. Check local guidance.
• Art with glitter, foam, or plastic decorations: Trash. Those extras don’t break down in the recycling system.

Cardboard and cartons: the best examples of “prep it right”

Cardboard might be the most visible paper product in your home, thanks to online shopping.

Corrugated boxes: flatten, empty, and recycle

Some of the clearest examples of best practices for recycling paper products involve shipping boxes:

• Remove non-paper packaging: Plastic air pillows, bubble wrap, foam inserts, and plastic straps should not go in your paper recycling.
• Peel off big tape strips and plastic labels: You don’t have to get every last bit, but removing large plastic sections helps.
• Flatten boxes: This saves space in your bin and makes collection and sorting more efficient.

Paperboard vs. corrugated cardboard

• Paperboard: Thin cardboard used for cereal boxes, tissue boxes, and some food packaging. Usually recyclable if clean and dry.
• Corrugated cardboard: The thicker, ridged material used for shipping boxes. Highly recyclable and in demand.

Both are great examples of best practices for recycling paper products when you keep them dry, clean, and flattened.

Cartons: milk, juice, and soup boxes

Shelf-stable and refrigerated cartons (often called aseptic or gable-top cartons) are made of paper plus plastic and sometimes aluminum. Many U.S. communities now accept them, but not all. The Carton Council maintains a helpful map of where they’re accepted: https://www.recyclecartons.com.

If your area accepts cartons:

• Rinse them.
• Remove straws and plastic caps if your local rules say so (some programs accept caps on).
• Do not flatten them unless your program specifically requests it.

Global and 2024–2025 trends that affect paper recycling best practices

Recycling rules aren’t static. Policies, markets, and technology keep shifting, which changes what counts as the best examples of good behavior.

Cleaner streams are in, “wishcycling” is out

Since around 2018, stricter contamination standards in global recycling markets have pushed local programs to tighten their rules. In 2024 and 2025, cities are still emphasizing:

• Quality over quantity: It’s better to recycle less but recycle correctly than to toss everything in and hope for the best.
• Clear guidance: Many programs now publish detailed lists and visuals showing what paper items they accept.

The EPA’s recycling basics page is a good starting point for keeping up with general guidance: https://www.epa.gov/recycle.

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) and better labeling

Some U.S. states and other countries are adopting or considering extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging. This shifts some responsibility (and cost) for recycling onto producers, which can encourage:

• Simpler, more recyclable paper packaging.
• Clearer labels about recyclability.

In practice, this means more packaging will be designed as recyclable paper and fewer confusing mixed-material products—so future examples of best practices for recycling paper products may actually get simpler.

Common mistakes: real examples of what not to do with paper

Learning from mistakes can be just as helpful as copying good habits. Here are some real-life examples of what to avoid:

• Tossing wet paper in the bin: Wet paper fibers break down and can mold, lowering the value of the entire load.
• Recycling paper plates and fast-food wrappers: Most are contaminated with food or coated with plastic, which makes them poor candidates for standard paper recycling.
• Including waxed or plastic-coated paper: Think ice cream cartons, some takeout boxes, and shiny frozen food boxes. Unless your program specifically accepts them, they usually belong in the trash.
• Bagging paper in plastic bags: Many facilities can’t or won’t open plastic bags, so the contents may go straight to landfill. Put paper in the bin loose unless your city says otherwise.

These “don’ts” are just as important as the positive examples of best practices for recycling paper products we’ve covered.

Putting it together: simple habits that give you the best examples of success

If you want to be someone others point to as one of the best examples of a smart recycler, you don’t need a complicated system. You just need a few habits:

• Keep a dedicated paper bin near your desk or in the kitchen so recycling is the default, not the exception.
• Do a quick check for contamination: Is it wet, greasy, or coated in plastic? If yes, trash or compost instead.
• Flatten boxes immediately after opening packages so they don’t take over your space or tempt you to toss them in the trash.
• Check local rules once a year: Cities update lists as markets and technology change.

These daily behaviors are quiet but powerful examples of best practices for recycling paper products. They’re also easy to teach kids, coworkers, and roommates.

For more guidance and education materials, organizations like Earth911 (https://earth911.com) and the Carton Council (https://www.recyclecartons.com) offer searchable tools and tips.

FAQ: examples of best practices for recycling paper products

What are some simple examples of best practices for recycling paper products at home?

Some of the simplest examples of best practices for recycling paper products at home include flattening cardboard boxes, keeping paper clean and dry, removing plastic bags or liners from cereal boxes, and recycling office paper and envelopes while trashing food-soiled napkins and greasy pizza box bottoms.

Can you give an example of a paper item that looks recyclable but usually isn’t?

A classic example of a tricky item is the disposable paper coffee cup. It looks like plain paper, but most are lined with a thin layer of plastic. Unless your local program specifically accepts them, they usually belong in the trash, while the cardboard sleeve and carrier can be recycled.

Are receipts a good example of paper that should not be recycled?

Yes. Many receipts are printed on thermal paper, which is coated with chemicals that don’t belong in the paper recycling stream. In most U.S. programs, receipts are a good example of paper that should go in the trash, not the recycling bin.

What are examples of best practices for recycling paper products in an office?

In an office, strong examples of best practices for recycling paper products include setting up clearly labeled paper-only bins, encouraging double-sided printing to reduce waste, recycling clean printer paper, file folders, and envelopes, and keeping food and drink away from paper recycling stations so contamination stays low.

Where can I find more information about safe and effective paper recycling?

For general recycling guidelines, the U.S. EPA offers plain-language resources at https://www.epa.gov/recycle. For packaging and carton-specific information, the Carton Council at https://www.recyclecartons.com provides tools and local program details. You can also check your city or county’s solid waste or public works department website for the most accurate local rules.