Facts About Mail

Mail comes in many different sizes, forms and textures, but the key ingredient is paper. While about one-third of all paper is made from recycled material, the Sierra Club estimates that about 900 million trees are cut down annually for the production of paper worldwide. Although trees are renewable over time, increased recycling eases demand for trees and preserves habitat where logging occurs.

Mail, or “mixed paper,” is the term used to define the types of paper products that can be collected and recycled from our daily mail. It is a broad category that can be difficult to define precisely and often varies from one location to another.  Generally, mail can be broken down into three main categories:

1. Ordinary Paper

This includes all paper that looks like ordinary paper, such as office paper (white or colored) and phone books. Sturdier paper, such as construction paper, manila folders and paperboard are also recyclable.

2. Print paper

Print paper includes newspapers, catalogs and magazines. Because this type tends to contain more ink, print paper – magazines and catalogs especially – undergoes a different recycling process and is sometimes collected separately from office paper and newspaper.

3. Cardboard

This generally includes items such as cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard (with a wavy middle layer) and boxboard (such as shipping boxes or food containers). If the cardboard has a waxy coating, then it must be thrown out. Cardboard is another product in which recycling varies from municipality to municipality.