Storage.com
Clear the clutter. Keep what matters.
Compare U.S. storage units for the furniture and seasonal gear you want to keep after a cleanout.
Compare nearby storage unitsPaper recycling
How to Recycle Paper Bags
Brown paper grocery bags, lunch sacks, shopping bags, and takeout bags.
Check local acceptanceLast reviewed September 29, 2026
Quick answer
Yes, plain brown paper bags are recyclable. Empty them, remove any plastic, string, or ribbon handles (paper handles and glued-on handles can stay), and put them in your curbside paper bin. Bags soaked with grease or food go in the trash or the compost bin instead. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
How to Prepare
- 1Empty the bag completely
- 2Remove handles made of plastic, string, or ribbon
- 3Leave paper handles and glued-on handles in place, because a small amount of adhesive does not contaminate paper recycling
- 4Keep the bag dry
- 5Tear off a food-soiled section and recycle the clean part, or trash the whole bag if most of it is soiled
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling
- Recycling centers
- Grocery store collection bins
Special Instructions
Grease is the deal-breaker. Paper mixes with water during recycling, and grease does not, so food-soiled bags contaminate the load. San Jose's guide says wet or soiled bags should be thrown away or composted, and you can salvage the clean portion of a bag by removing the soiled area. Plastic-coated shopping and gift bags do not belong in paper recycling, so reuse them.
Environmental Impact
Paper bags recycle into new paper products. Reusing a bag before you recycle it keeps it in service longer.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Reuse for storage or lunches
- Use as book covers or shipping wrap
- Line a trash can
- Return to the grocery store for reuse
- Compost soiled bags where your program takes them
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Brown paper grocery bags
- Lunch sacks
- Clean paper shopping bags
- Bags with paper handles
- Bags with glued-on handles
Not Accepted
- Bags soaked with grease or food
- Bags with plastic, string, or ribbon handles still attached
- Plastic-coated or laminated shopping and gift bags
- Wet or moldy bags
FAQs
Are paper bags recyclable?
Yes. Clean brown paper bags go in your curbside paper bin. Remove any plastic, string, or ribbon handles first.
Are brown paper bags recyclable?
Yes. Brown kraft grocery and lunch bags are recyclable when they are empty, dry, and free of grease and food. Kane County, Illinois lists clean craft paper bags as accepted.
Can you recycle paper bags with handles?
Yes, when the handles are paper or attached with adhesive. San Jose's guide says a small amount of adhesive does not contaminate paper recycling. Remove plastic, string, or ribbon handles first.
Can I recycle a greasy paper bag?
No. Grease does not mix with water in the pulper and contaminates the paper. Trash or compost a soiled bag, or remove the soiled part and recycle the clean part.
Can paper bags be composted?
Yes, food-soiled paper bags can go to compost. San Jose says soiled bags should be thrown away or composted, so use your organics bin where your city accepts paper.
Recycle paper bags
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more paper materials.