Paper recycling
How to Recycle Junk Mail
Unwanted advertising mail, catalogs, and promotional materials - part of the roughly 23% of US solid waste that's mail-related paper.
RecyclableUpdated Jul 2026
Quick answer
Yes, most junk mail, flyers, and envelopes are recyclable, including ones with a plastic address window - you don't need to pick it out, since most paper mills filter it out during pulping. Keep everything dry, pull out any loose plastic samples or product inserts, and put it in curbside paper recycling; opting out of mailing lists cuts down the waste at the source.
- Recyclable
- Yes
How to Prepare
- 1Leave a glued-in plastic address window in place - most paper mills filter it out during pulping
- 2Remove loose plastic samples, product inserts, or attachments, which are a separate issue from a window
- 3Bundle with other curbside paper
- 4
