![]() Most media these days are printed using soy-based ink, which is easily removed during the recycling process. Does the ink on book and magazine paper affect recycling? Paper mills also don’t want to pay for wet paper because it’s heavier with the extra water weight. Why can’t wet books and magazines be recycled?Įven though the paper recycling process introduces water, when you get paper wet and it dries, it manipulates the fibers (as a result, it feels more stiff). You can also ask your local library if it accepts used books, as they can be sold to companies like the ones mentioned above or sold in book sales to raise money for library programs. These companies operate drop-off bins in many shopping mall parking lots. Companies like Better World Books and Discover Books will accept books in good condition to sell them online. You definitely want to check with your local program, though. Some programs specifically exclude hardcover books because of the binding, unless you remove it. Most curbside recycling programs accept magazines and paperback books as mixed paper. Because mixed paper fibers are smaller than cardboard or office paper, this paper is recycled into lesser-quality paper products, such as coffee filters, egg cartons and paper towels.įind a drop-off location for books and magazines near you using the Recycling Locator.įind Recycling Guides for Other Materialsįrequent Book and Magazine Recycling Questions Can I recycle books and magazines in my curbside recycling program? Finally, the fibers are rolled and dried, then sent off to make new products. Then, any ink and adhesive is removed and the paper fibers start bonding together. The mixed paper is then baled and sent to a mill.Īt the mill, there are machines called pulpers that introduce water and chemicals to break down the paper into fibers. Since both books and magazines are mixed paper, the first step in recycling is to separate these products from cardboard, office paper and newspaper grades. We only get 33 percent of our new paper pulp from recycled materials the rest must be sourced from tearing down trees and wood chips.Paper accounts for half the weight of all recyclables collected in curbside programs, and books and magazines are some of the heaviest paper products. ![]()
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