Recycling Q&A

Good news! You don't need to remove tape from a cardboard box. Tape and shipping labels do not interfere with the recycling process. 

Yes, birthday cards and envelopes made of paper are usually okay to recycle.

Yes! Tissue boxes are recyclable. Flatten the box and then place it in your recycling bin. 

More than 33 million tons of cardboard was recycled in 2024. The cardboard recycling rate was 69% -74%.

Yes, paper gets recycled! Today, more than 2/3 of all paper recycled in the U.S. is turned into new products Americans rely on at mills nationwide.

Yes, post-it notes are recyclable by paper mills! It’s best to attach them to printer paper, mail, magazines, or other larger paper items and place them in your recycling bin

Yes, paper cups are recyclable. There are about 40 mills across North America that recycle paper cups. Cities across the U.S. have already added cups to their recycling programs. 

Paper bags are widely accepted for recycling across the U.S. They are the only bags that are recyclable in curbside bins. This ease of recycling makes them a convenient choice.  

Decorative tissue paper is recyclable by paper mills. Be sure to check your local guidelines before placing it in your recycling bin.

Grease and cheese in an amount typically found on pizza boxes are not an issue for the recycling process. 82% of Americans have access to a community recycling program that accepts pizza boxes.

Are address window envelopes recyclable? Yes! You don’t even have to remove the plastic window. During the repulping process, it gets filtered out.

Cardboard is a highly recyclable material that’s widely accepted for recycling in recycling programs across the U.S.