You’ve got the basics down, now it’s time to up your game. Take the “pulp fiction” quiz below to see how well you know the Boulder County Recycling Center’s paper recycling guidelines.
Fact or fiction – the following papers are recyclable:
- Copy or printer paper-ream wrappers
- Hanging and file folders
- Construction paper and tissue paper
- Gift wrap
- Bright colored paper
- Thermal paper receipts
- Tea bag envelopes and sugar packets
- Meat-wrapping paper
- Juice boxes
Answers
- Fiction: Strive to buy paper with as much recycled content as possible but put the wrappers in the trash – they’re typically coated with plastic film.
- Fact: Cleaning your office? Toss hanging and file folders in the recycle bin.
- Fiction: The fibers in construction and tissue papers are too short to be reused. Like napkins and tissues however, they CAN go in the compost.
- Fiction: For the most part, gift wrap is short fiber, often embellished with metallic and sometimes finished with a plastic film. It should go in the trash 50 weeks per year. For the two weeks following the holiday season the Recycling Center usually sets up a drop-off bin at 1901 63rd in Boulder.
- Fiction: These are made with a “beater” dye, which means that the dye is literally beat into the fiber. Recycle these and it’s like putting a new red t-shirt in with a load of white laundry. Deposit in your compost bin.
- Fiction: These papers typically contain plastic and should be thrown in the trash.
- Fiction: Like so much single-use packaging, these are typically finished with plastic. Trash.
- Fiction: What do you think keeps the meat “juices” from leaking out? That’s right, plastic. You know what to do.
- Fact: These and other aseptic containers, often made by Tetra-pak are paper-based but do require a special recycling process. The good news is the Boulder County Recycling Center has a partnership with a processor that processes this material. Put in the recycle bin but remove and trash the straw first.
Thanks for playing!
