Paper and cardboard for recycling: what are the most common mistakes?

Staff Cart-One 18/06/2026 0

The separate collection of paper and cardboard has now become a well-established habit throughout Italy. A fundamental process that requires maximum attention to avoid mistakes that would undermine efforts to create new cellulose-based products.

Paper and cardboard for recycling: what are the most common mistakes? Thanks to the separate collection of paper and cardboard, it is possible to recover valuable raw materials that can be reused to make new cellulosic products. Unfortunately, however, many mistakes are still made by citizens. In this article, we will focus on the most common errors regarding the collection of paper and cardboard, explaining how to avoid them to make a concrete contribution to environmental protection. Find out more: “How to correctly separate paper and cardboard collection (without mistakes!)”

The importance of paper and cardboard recycling

Paper and cardboard packaging, like all other waste, if not disposed of correctly, can represent a problem for the health of the environment. Although it has become a practice that is now part of our daily lives, the collection of paper and cardboard still creates some confusion, negatively affecting the quality of recycling. Don't worry, avoiding some quite common mistakes is very simple if you follow a few precise rules within everyone's reach. Let's find out the most frequent mistakes when recycling paper and cardboard.

Boxes outside the containers

The first rule to follow for correct separate collection of paper and cardboard is to throw them into their designated container. Indeed, many citizens think they are making the dustmen's job easier by leaving boxes next to the containers or near the bins. This practice is not only wrong, but also harmful to the environment and to proper waste management. Leaving boxes outside means risking that they get wet due to rain, and therefore degrade before being fed into the recycling chain. Furthermore, boxes and cartons must be flattened in order to reduce their volume.

Paper tissues

One of the most common mistakes in the separate collection of paper and cardboard is the disposal of paper tissues inside the paper container. Many people believe that paper tissues are composed of the same type of material as paper and are therefore perfectly recyclable, although this is actually not the case. Throwing paper tissues into the paper bin can compromise the entire recycling chain, contaminating other materials and hindering the waste selection and separation process. For this reason, paper tissues, even when clean, do not belong in the separate collection of paper because they are wet-resistant and therefore difficult to recycle. Specifically, if soiled with food, they must be thrown into the organic waste, based on the provisions of the Municipality; if soiled with other substances, instead, into the unsorted waste.

Receipts

Receipts, although made of paper, are not entirely recyclable and must not be disposed of along with paper and cardboard. Most receipts are coated with a protective plastic film, which serves to protect them from water and rubbing. This coating makes receipts incompatible with recyclable paper, turning them into a mixed waste of paper and plastic. This type of waste is very difficult to manage, as it requires a specific selection and treatment, which can be very expensive in terms of energy and resources. For these reasons, receipts must be thrown into the unsorted waste, unless it is explicitly stated that they are made of recyclable paper.

Greaseproof paper and baking paper

Greaseproof paper and baking paper are both treated with oily or silicone substances, which make them waterproof and heat-resistant. These substances, however, make these types of paper non-recyclable along with paper and cardboard, as they compromise the production process of recycled paper. Furthermore, greaseproof paper and baking paper can contain food residues, fats, and oils, which can contaminate the paper to be recycled and hinder the material selection and separation process. Greaseproof paper, such as that used to wrap cold cuts and cheeses, must be thrown into the unsorted waste bag. Regarding baking paper, where explicitly indicated, it can be thrown into the organic waste (thanks to compostable solutions), or alternatively into the unsorted waste.

Packaging with food residues

Food packaging, such as pizza boxes, fast-food cartons, chips and snack packs, are often made of paper and cardboard, but can contain food residues, fats, and oils, which can contaminate the material to be recycled and compromise the production process of recycled paper, reducing its quality and strength. Consequently, paper and cardboard packaging that is greasy or on which food residues remain must not be thrown into the separate collection of paper and cardboard, but into the organic waste container, always checking the regulations of the Municipality.

Paper and packaging soiled with chemicals

Paper and cardboard contaminated by chemical substances, such as paints, solvents, inks, mineral oils, and other toxic substances, can contaminate the entire recycling process, making the recycled paper and cardboard unusable or harmful to health. Furthermore, the chemical substances contained in the waste can pollute the soil and groundwater, compromising the health of animals and plants, and representing a serious risk to human health. For these reasons, paper and packaging soiled with chemicals must also be recycled in the unsorted waste container.

Adhesive tape and staples

Throwing adhesive tape and staples into the separate collection of paper and cardboard is a common mistake that can compromise the recycling chain and the quality of the material to be recycled. Adhesive tape and staples are materials different from paper and cardboard and are not biodegradable, so they cannot be recycled together. In addition, these materials can damage the machines used for recycling paper and cardboard, causing technical problems and additional costs for the companies managing the separate collection. Therefore, all non-cellulosic base materials such as adhesive tape, staples, and/or other metal parts (like those found in appliance packaging) must be separated from the paper or cardboard before they are thrown away.

Plastic wraps

Plastic wraps are made of materials different from paper and cardboard and are not biodegradable, so they cannot be recycled along with paper and cardboard. Furthermore, plastic can damage the machines used for recycling paper and cardboard, causing technical problems and additional costs for companies managing separate collection. If a plastic or bioplastic bag is used to carry paper to the appropriate container, it must not be thrown away with its contents: if you decide to dispose of it, in the first case it must go into the plastic container, in the second case into the organic waste one; if intact, it can instead be reused. The correct recycling of paper and cardboard is an important gesture for environmental protection and the safeguarding of natural resources. A concrete commitment that can make a difference for the quality of life of people and future generations, helping to reduce environmental impact and build a more sustainable future. And remember: when you dispose of paper and cardboard packaging, always find out about their correct management and follow the guidelines of your Municipality of residence. You might also be interested in: “Recycled and recyclable paper: the differences between the two processes”

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