Paper and card recycling

The UK uses around 12 million tonnes of paper each year. In Sandwell, it’s really easy to recycle your paper and card such as newspaper, magazines, envelopes, cardboard boxes, egg boxes and toilet roll tubes from your home by placing them into your blue lid recycling bin.

How is it recycled?

Once your paper and card has been separated from other recycling at the materials recycling facility in Stratford-Upon-Avon, it is sent to recycling factories to be made into new items. The paper and card is then:

  1. Graded by quality
  2. Pulped in a tank container water and chemicals to separate fibres   
  3. Pulp is sprayed onto mesh and water is pressed out
  4. The damp paper passes through heated rollers
  5. Dried paper is wound onto huge rolls
  6. Made into new products.

New products

There are a wide range of products made from recycled paper and card including:

  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Writing paper and envelopes
  • Toilet paper and toilet roll tubes
  • Greetings cards.

Environmental benefits

By recycling your paper and card you will be:

  • Conserving resources (paper is made from tress)
  • Reducing the consumption of energy used in the production of new paper and card
  • Reducing the amount of waste going to landfill
  • Reducing emission of gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.

Yes to: Newspaper and magazines, letters and envelopes, junk mail, cardboard boxes, egg boxes, toilet roll tubes, cartons.

No to: Greasy pizza boxes, nappies, tissues and paper towels, wet wipes, foil or glittery wrapping paper, wallpaper