We deal with receipts and similar printouts almost every day. We receive them in grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, as a printout from parking meters, ticket machines or bottle machines. They end up in pockets and then in homes, often as small, inconspicuous slips, which is why they are easily overlooked. They look like ordinary paper, but their composition makes them unsuitable for processing with paper waste in most cases.
Paper receipt – why is it not the same?
Most receipts are printed on so-called thermal paper. This material is covered with a special chemical layer that reacts to temperature, which allows printing without ink. Unfortunately, we cannot throw them into the blue bin because of the chemical layer. Thermal paper should not be thrown into the recycling bin, as it can contaminate the paper recycling process.
Where to throw away receipts?
If you are wondering where to throw a receipt, it is definitely not into the blue paper bin. Receipts should be thrown into mixed waste. This is the simplest and safest rule.
Does every receipt end up in mixed waste?
Not all, but the vast majority. In some cases, offset paper (without a thermal layer) is used, which can be recycled. In practice, however, it is difficult to distinguish it at first glance, so the risk of mistake is high. Therefore, if you are not sure where to throw the receipt, always choose the mixed waste bin.
How to recognize thermal paper?
Here are the main differences:
- Thermal paper is smooth and slightly glossy (most prints)
- Regular paper is dull, rougher.
However, if you are unsure, always throw the receipt in the mixed waste.
Why is proper sorting of receipts important?
Incorrectly throwing receipts into the paper bin can reduce the quality of the paper waste, make the recycling process more difficult, and ultimately increase the cost of waste processing. Remember this before you throw your print away.
