The paper and cardboard recycling rules I've been getting wrong without realising – and you might be breaking them too

I thought I was clear about paper and cardboard recycling rules, but it turns out that my coffee drinking habit is putting me at risk of breaking the rules.

Think that under the new Simpler Recycling guidelines your disposable paper coffee cup and lid are safe to put in the paper and cardboard bin if they're rinsed? Think again.

Coffee cups are not suitable for your recycling bins, and neither are some other common household paper and cardboard items, including non-food related products. Here's what you need to think about before casually discarding the paper and cardboard that comes into your home.

What items are banned from paper and cardboard recycling?

While it's easy to assume that your paper coffee cup and lid – commonly served by most high street coffee shops or cafes – is safe to pop in your paper and cardboard recycling as it's not plastic, in short, it's not.

In hindsight, it doesn't take a lot to work this out. Paper or cardboard alone isn't any protection against liquid, so they aren't just made of paper, as Lucas Hargreaves, recycling expert at Skip Hire Network, explains.

"Most takeaway coffee cups can’t go in standard UK recycling because they’re lined with plastic. That lining makes them tricky to process. Some popular coffee chains do offer in-store recycling, but if you’re at home, 'paper' coffee cup and lids are usually best placed in general waste, unless your council says otherwise, so it’s always good to check your local regulations on this.”

There's also one other food related item says Lucas, that homeowners often forget about and happily dispose of in their recycling without realising the risk.

“There’s a big culprit in our households that people assume is recyclable but sometimes isn’t. Greasy pizza boxes usually can’t be recycled, unless you tear off the clean parts," he warns.

"Wet paper or cardboard often gets rejected as well, so any takeaway containers, cake boxes with greasy spots, or boxes that have become wet cannot be recycled.”

It's the same for paper straws too. Their size, and the fact they are generally coated with whatever liquid you drink through them prohibits them from entering the recycling stream. And, as we all know, they absorb liquid too so generally are pretty soggy by the time you've finished a drink.

However, most of them are biodegradable, which is good, but isn't without restrictions. Biodegradable items are now excluded from your food waste under the new rules, so you have to dispose of them in your general waste.

Other paper items that could be risky

So what other standard household items should you avoid placing in your paper and cardboard recycling?

Wrapping paper and greetings card have always been a grey area for me, so I asked Lucas to explain the rules for these items as well.

“It depends on the type of wrapping paper and greeting cards, and it can be tricky to know," he agrees. "Plain paper wrapping is usually recyclable, but anything with foil, glitter, or a shiny coating isn’t recyclable. The same goes for cards – plain cards are recyclable, but avoid trying to recycle ones with extras like ribbons, batteries or coatings.”

And what about tape, stickers, or any additional materials that form part of the paper or cardboard packaging that comes into your home?

“It’s best to remove as much as you can, especially larger bits of plastic or heavy sticky materials," says Lucas, "but if you can’t separate it completely – like small pieces of parcel tape, shipping labels or stickers, or stubborn, minor glue residue – most modern recycling can filter this out before processing.

"But, it’s always considered best practice to remove as much of this as possible before recycling so not to contaminate the load," he notes.

Lucas Hargreaves

Lucas Hargreaves has almost eight years of experience in the recycling industry, with a focus on turning strategy into delivery. Lucas has also secured two B Corp accreditations with 100+ scores, embedding sustainability into the core of the business rather than treating it as a bolt-on. Lucas is driven by building practical, well-run businesses that create long-term commercial and environmental value.

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Paper and cardboard recycling guidelines

So what else can you do to make sure you don't break the new paper and cardboard recycling guidelines? Even if your council is exempt from the changes for now, it's good to understand what can and can't go in your recycling.

In much the same way as there is advice regarding washing your plastics before they go in the recycling, paper and cardboard must also adhere to the rules to avoid contaminating the rest of the items in your recycling bag or box.

To keep your recycling on the right side of the guidelines, take heed of the following:

1. Flatten all boxes before putting them out. It saves space in your bin, speeds up collection and helps recycling teams process materials more efficiently.
2. Keep cardboard dry by storing it indoors or under cover until collection day.
3. Don't bag it before placing it into the dedicated bin, box or bag
4. Watch out for waxed, coated and foil-lined packaging as these generally can't go in the paper and card stream.
5. Check your council's guidance if you're unsure.

FAQs

Are there rules about the size and amount of paper and cardboard I can recycle?

“There aren’t strict size limits, but collection works best when everything fits nearly into your bin with the lid fully closed," says Lucas Hargreaves. "Large boxes should be flattened, and if needed, cut down into smaller pieces so they don’t get stuck or left behind during collection.

“If you’ve got extra cardboard, start by flattening and stacking it to make the most of the space," he suggests. "If it still won’t fit, you can spread it across a couple of collections. Alternatively, take it to a local recycling centre, where larger amounts are usually accepted without any issues.”

Do I need to remove my name and address from packaging?

Although the paper and cardboard you are recycling will go through a pulping process, as explained below, you still need to be conscious of sharing your personal details says Lucas Hargreaves.

“It’s worth removing anything with your name, address or account details on it, as items can still be visible during sorting. The easiest option is to tear off labels or cut out sections with personal info. For more sensitive documents, shredding is a safer choice. If you don’t have a shredder, just ripping paper into very small pieces works.”

What happens to paper and cardboard in the recycling process?

Once it leaves your home, what happens to the paper and cardboard you've recycled?

"In short, once collected, paper and cardboard are sorted and turned into pulp," says Lucas Hargreaves. "That pulp is then reused to make new products like packaging or newspapers, so it all goes back into use rather than being wasted."

With a Homebuilding & Renovating poll revealing that 4 in 5 homeowners are still confused by the new recycling rules, if you're still unsure as to the new rules, find out what happens if you put items meant for recycling into your general waste, and why most councils won't be able to charge for supplying you with recycling bins or bags.