Lake Region Solid Waste Authority
Serving Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami, Osage, and Shawnee Counties
Recycling
What is Recycling?
Recycling diverts usable materials from landfills so they can be processed into new products. Common recyclables include;
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Cardboard
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Office paper
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Newspaper
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Aluminum cans
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Steel cans
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Plastic bottles and containers
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Glass
How to Read Recycling Symbols
One of the most important public education components is explaining the Chasing Arrows Symbol. The triangle of arrows does NOT automatically mean recyclable. Just because it has a recycling symbol does not mean it belongs in your curbside bin
It identifies the type of plastic resin.
Plastic Resin Codes
Symbol Plastic Type Common Products Usually Recyclable?
#1 PET or PETE Water bottles, soda bottles Often Yes
#2 HDPE Milk jugs, detergent bottles Often Yes
#3 PVC Pipes, some packaging Rarely
#4 LDPE Grocery bags, wraps Sometimes
#5 PP Yogurt cups, food tubs Sometimes
#6 PS Foam cups, packaging Rarely
#7 Other Mixed plastics Rarely
Key Public Message:
“.”
Recycling Contamination Examples
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Show side-by-side images:
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Clean cardboard vs. greasy pizza box
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Empty bottle vs. bottle with liquid
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Loose plastic bag in bin
Add caption:
When in doubt, leave it out.
Paper & Cardboards
Paper and cardboard recycling codes are designated by numbers 20 through 23 under the abbreviation PAP. These standardized material identification numbers are typically printed inside a triangular chasing arrows symbol or a solid triangle to aid waste sorting facilities. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Paper & Cardboard Material Codes
The primary codes used globally to categorize paper-based products include:
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Code 20 (PAP): Corrugated fiberboard used for shipping boxes.
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Code 21 (PAP): Non-corrugated fiberboard used for cereal boxes and paperboard packaging.
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Code 22 (PAP): Standard paper including office paper, letters, newspapers, and magazines.
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Code 23 (PAP): Heavy-weight paper stock such as greeting cards, postcards, and book covers. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Composite Packaging Codes (Paper Combinations) [1]
Some paper items are bonded with other materials like plastic or aluminum (e.g., juice cartons) and carry different codes: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
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Code 81 (C/PAP): Paper and plastic combinations, common in consumer product packaging.
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Code 84 (C/PAP): Paper and card integrated with liquid-retaining plastic/aluminum layers, such as beverage cartons. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Common Eco-Labels for Paper and Cardboard
Aside from numerical codes, look for these specific symbols on paper products to determine origin and recycled content:
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The Möbius Loop: The classic three-arrow triangle. A plain loop means the item is capable of being recycled. A loop with a percentage inside indicates how much recycled material was used to make it.
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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): A tree logo with a checkmark indicating the paper is sourced from responsibly managed forests.
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The Green Dot: Two interlocking arrows in a circle. This indicates the manufacturer has made a financial contribution to packaging recovery systems, not that the item itself is recyclable. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Non-Recyclable Paper Pitfalls
Avoid throwing these items into curbside bins, as they contaminate the batch: [1, 2, 3, 4]
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Grease-Soaked Paper: Pizza boxes with food residue ruin the chemical recycling bath.
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Laminated Paper: Shiny or plastic-coated gift bags and metallic wrapping papers cannot separate.
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Sanitary Paper: Used paper towels, napkins, and tissues contain fibers too short to repurpose