FAQ Tag: ads

Last week, someone asked about recycling greeting cards and whether to put them in with magazines or paper. Your answer was to always put them in with magazines. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between newspaper advertisements. Some look like they could be a glossy and some appear to be colorful newsprint. Should they also all be put in with magazines? Glossy or newspaper? ~Confused

Dear Confused,

You are not the only one that is confused. My answer to the question about greeting cards was not exactly correct. When doing some research on recycling cards, I discovered that there is a better answer. First of all, glossy or slicks are described as looking like photographs. Using that description, a few greeting cards are glossy and they go in with magazines. However, most greeting cards, thank you notes, announcements, and postcards are matte and they go in with office paper. Color is a not a factor, unless it is glossy. What difference does it make whether a card is put in with paper or magazines? The difference is that office paper is worth several times what magazines are worth at a paper mill. The same is true with the newspaper advertisements. Glossy looking ads go in with magazines, all other ads stay in with the newspaper. Just as office paper is worth more than magazines, so are newspapers worth more than magazines.

Can paper that has had something glued on it, but removed, be recycled? This includes identification cards from organizations requesting a donation, as well as advertisements. ~Just Curious

Dear Just Curious,

Most of the time the answer to your question is yes.  As long as you do not have an excessive amount of glue on paper and poster board, you can recycle them with paper. However, if the glued item is on waxy-feeling paper, it can’t be recycled.

Recently, several envelopes I received in the mail contained perfumed advertisements. I am wondering if they can still be recycled with magazines. ~Prefer Unscented

Dear Prefer Unscented,

I totally agree with you and wish manufacturers would not include them in mailings. However, the perfume doesn’t keep them from being recyclable. All such ads that I have seen have been on slicks, so into the magazine bag or bin they go.