How to Recycle Newspapers
Daily newspapers, weekly papers, and newsprint. EPA measured a 64.8% recycling rate for newspapers in 2018, one of the highest of any paper grade.
Quick answer
Yes, newspapers are recyclable, and so is crumpled, torn, or folded newspaper. Keep it dry, pull off the plastic delivery sleeve and rubber bands, and put it in curbside paper or mixed recycling. Mills pulp it into new newsprint, tissue, and cardboard. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
How to Prepare
- 1Remove plastic delivery sleeves and rubber bands
- 2Keep newspapers dry and clean
- 3Leave inserts and glossy flyers in, unless your program says otherwise
- 4Bundle with twine or place in a paper bag only if your program asks for it, such as NYC's 18-inch twine bundles
- 5Trash wet or moldy newspaper
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling
- Recycling centers
- Community collection drives
Special Instructions
Crumpled, torn, or folded newspaper is still recyclable, because the pulper breaks every sheet down into loose fiber. Newsprint is made of short fibers, so it goes back into products that need less strength: new newsprint, tissue, and cardboard. Publishers and distributors collect unsold copies and sell them to mills as recovered paper. Some programs, including Kane County, Illinois, tell residents to remove plastic sleeves from newspapers and inserts before recycling.
Environmental Impact
Newspaper recycles into new newsprint, tissue paper, and cardboard. EPA reports a 64.8% newspaper recycling rate in 2018, and a paper fiber can be reused five to seven times before it gets too short to use.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Pack fragile items with it when you move or ship
- Use it for craft projects
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Daily and weekly newspapers
- Newspaper inserts and flyers
- Crumpled or torn newspaper
- Folded newspaper
Not Accepted
- Plastic delivery sleeves and bags
- Rubber bands
- Wet or moldy newspaper
FAQs
Can crumpled paper be recycled?
Yes. Crumpled, torn, or folded paper is still recyclable, because the pulper breaks every sheet into loose fiber. Keep it dry and clean, and put it in your paper or mixed recycling bin.
Can you recycle newspapers?
Yes. Newspapers are among the most recycled paper grades, with a 64.8% recycling rate in 2018 according to EPA. Put them in curbside paper recycling or take them to a recycling center.
Where do unsold newspapers go?
Unsold copies go back to the publisher or distributor, which collects them and sells them to paper mills as recovered paper. The mills pulp them into new paper and packaging.
Should I take newspapers out of the plastic sleeve before recycling?
Yes. Plastic sleeves and rubber bands are contaminants, so pull them off and recycle the paper on its own. Kane County, Illinois asks residents to remove plastic sleeves from newspapers and inserts.
Can I recycle wet newspaper?
No. Water breaks down the fibers and contaminates the rest of the paper load. Let a slightly damp newspaper dry before you recycle it, and trash any that is soaked or moldy.
What does recycled newspaper become?
Mills turn it into new newsprint, tissue paper, and cardboard. Newsprint has short fibers, so it goes into products that need less strength, and a paper fiber can be reused five to seven times.
Recycle newspapers
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more paper materials.