Quick question about paper recycling - window envelopes

PabloNeruda

Probably a daft one actually, but one which has nevertheless nagged me for a little while. Do window envelopes interfere with the paper recycling process, bearing in mind the window part? It's attatched to the paper, so wouldn't separate easily. I'm not fully up to speed on how impurities are filtered out, but if anyone knows a site that gives an insight into the actual mechanics of the recycling processes that our waste goes through, I'd be most interested.

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, Pablo We can't recycle envelopes due to gummed edges. Would expect *windows* are forbidden too.

C_Ronaldo

we can recycle the envelopes in our area but you have to take out the windowed part,

LittleVoice

Best advice is to contact your local council.
Depending on who handles the paper, envelopes may or may not be accepted - same with shredded paper.
My local council takes envelopes but doesn't like the windows (because of the plastic, not the aperture) but doesn't want shredded paper because the bits can stop the machines working at the sorting location. (All our recyclable material gets put into one bag which is sorted elsewhere - we don't separate paper from glass, plastic bottles or cans.)

morg_monster

I put all the envelopes in a pile after I've opened our post, and then on a sunday evening sit down with a pair of scissors, cut out the windows and then recycle.
I was wondering whether companies could make the windows out of a thinner version of the cornstarch stuff that that bottled water company (belu?) uses for their bottles, then it could be composted?!

PabloNeruda

See, here's the thing. I thought it was a silly question but now I'm really glad I asked. Why? Well, the thing about this council recycling is that one never knows if what one is putting in the recycling bin for collection each week really does get recycled or if it potantially does more harm than good. The window envelopes being a classic case in point. I've been putting them in my recycling collection bin, along with newspapers, jars, plastic bottles etc etc for as long as I can remember. And now I have no idea whether I should have been or not. Yes, we've had a basic guide distributed by the council listing what can and cannot go in the bin. But.....it's not specific enough, just a very basic guide. Then I hear stories that what's recyclable in one council is not recyclable in the next. It's really time local government started using some joined-up thinking.

Jose.E

And tell me what do you think about shredded paper?, i've been shredding all my old bank statements, bills and other paper with addresses on it. Been trying to fit it into my recycling bin, so it's taking a long time.

Yesterday I was in a pet store and the guy behind the counter said that they love getting shredded paper for under the dogs, rabbits etc.

My question is - do you think it's better to send shredded paper to recycling where it will be made into another product, or take it to a pet store where it will only be reused the one time?

I'm happy to take it to a pet store as I don't need it anymore, but just wanted to know what you think. We also don't buy anything from the store, but my children always want to go and look at the animals, so I think that I'm sort of "paying" for looking.

Mojisola

The recyclers don't like shredded paper. The fibres are too short to make decent quality paper.

sparrer

Here in my part of Bedfordshire I wasn't sure about shredded paper so I phoned the recycling depot who told me to put it in a separate carton (cereal box or similar) before putting in the orange sack as it's nigh on impossible to sort when it's all in together. With windows, they do accept them here but I'd got into the habit of cutting them out anyway so just keep on doing it. I sometimes think the LA's are more confused re what can and can't be recycled than we are

Antispam

santas-helper :spam:

IamJen

As for the shredded paper, around these parts, we can put it in our garden waste bin (leaves, branches, etc.) Non-shredded stuff has to be bound together or put in a paper bag, etc. in the "regular" recycling bin.