If you receive junk mail at your home just as much as we do, you know what we're talking about when we say it can

This entire pile can be recycled.

be a big pain to have to deal with every single day. When

left unmanaged, 

your catalogs, bills,

newspapers, flyers,

packages and 

envelopes end up in messy piles on just about every surface 

of your home creating mounds full of clutter.

The good news is that there is a simple solution to the junk mail nightmare that we all face on a daily basis. That is, recycle it! Regardless of shape, weight, paper type, labels, etc., 99% of junk mail is in fact recyclable. 

American Disposal Services recommends that you sift through your received mail as you stand over your recycling bin or cart ensuring that you are properly disposing of all recyclable materials found in your mail. When the mail becomes overwhelming and unmanageable, people have the tendency to dump junk mail in with their trash. The convenience of a trash receptacle often trumps proper recycling. If you make sure to stand next to your recycling equipment as you sift through your piles, you'll be keeping clean AND 'green'.

So, what types of mail should I recycle?

Envelopes

Envelopes of any color or any size are accepted in your

recycling collection equipment. Envelopes WITH clear windows (ie. bills or invoices) may also be recycled.

Letters

Flyers, postcards, pamphlets, direct mail advertising

Even glossy paper flyer inserts may be recycled in our program alongside any colored papers, etc.

Newspapers

For those that receive newspapers, please make sure to remove the plastic bag before placing in your recycling bin. *Refer to the NEW eNews archives section of our website for information on plastic bag recycling

Magazines and Catalogs 

Yellow Pages and White Pages

Nowadays people tend to look up directory listings online. If you have no need for your Yellow Page or White Page book, please dispose with your recyclables

Paper-Based Shipping Envelopes and Cardboard Boxes

A rule of thumb that we live by is, "If it tears, recycle it." 

This rule applies to shipping envelopes. Many shipping 

envelopes are made of paper, however, some are made from a plastic film or have a plastic bubble liner. Make sure to do a double-check before placing your shipping envelopes in with the 

recyclables. Paper-based shipping envelopes ONLY, please.

What should I do with shredded documents?

If you have important documents that must be shredded before recycling, please make sure that you have these shreddings placed in a large, tied plastic bag before disposing in your recycling bin. This is one instance where we prefer a recycled material to be placed in your recycling collection equipment with a plastic bag as it keeps the shredded papers in a singled bundled unit.