Can You Recycle Glossy Magazines? 📤: Should you aim to recycle your glossy magazines or just dispose of it in the rubbish or general waste bin? We will talk about that and more in this blog. 

Short answer: yes, you can recycle glossy magazines. You can even do so with their staples intact. We encourage you to recycle paper, in general.

– Mr Waster

Never mind the age of the internet – reading magazines is still a fun thing to do in this day and age. All through the years, I have gathered magazines of all types, trying to acquire knowledge on a certain topic or an industry I fondly follow. When I decide to pick one magazine up, I still see a lot of people lining up in the checkout area and buy pop culture glossy magazines.

Buying and collecting magazines gives you ‘fulfiling’ feeling that makes you want more, according to my experience. However – if you are like me – without you realising, you may have already accumulated too much magazines in your home or office. For example, you would discover old magazines lying around in the living room, magazines you have already read so many times and have no interest in. Time comes and you have too much magazines lying around. Your area already looks like a magazine factory! What should you do then?

Should you recycle your old, glossy magazines? Or, are there other viable ways to dispose of them? Below, we discover if we can recycle it or not. Read on to learn more.

 

Learn a bit about Waster: waste and recycling for small and medium Aussie businesses

Before we take you further into the discussion and share with you if you can or cannot recycle glossy magazines, we want to share Waster with you.

Who is Waster? Why do plenty consider it as one of the best waste and recycling companies in Australia?


>Download Now: Free PDF Business Owners Guide To Commingled Recycling Bin Services


Simply put, Waster provides you with innovative solutions for your and your business’s waste management and recycling needs. In addition to that, we provide flexible, 30-day contracts instead of the typical lock-in contracts, which proves a better choice nowadays.

Click on the blue button below to learn more.


READ: Garbage Collection Startup In AFR Fast 100 List for 2021 🏆


 

Yes, you can recycle glossy magazines!

If you are looking to recycle glossy magazines, then you should aim to do so. You do not have to dispose of them in your general waste bin. No pun intended, but that would be a real waste.

In general, you can recycle glossy paper such as that you can find in magazines, junk mail, brochures, business cards and more. You can all recycle those in your kerbside.

Glossy magazines, along with other glossy papers, usually get their shine from certain additives such as minerals or resins that goes into the gaps in paper fibres. As a result, this creates a smooth and shiny surface that gives the paper a glossy look and feel. Any kind of glossy paper, you can place in the recycling bin.

 

When can glossy magazines not be recycled?

You cannot just recycle glossy magazines, especially if you are unsure.

Of course, you first have to consult with your local council first. They might have certain rules and guidelines that translate to your glossy magazines’ recyclability. Even if you see most websites (including your own local council’s website) indicate that you can recycle glossy magazines, you should still choose to contact them first. Your local council’s website might be a bit outdated and rules and guidelines on glossy magazine recycling might have already changed.

Some locations might only accept glossy magazines that can be torn down. They might not accept those added with polymer coatings to make them more durable. Adding these make them unrecyclable as a result.

 

What about recycling glossy magazines’ staples?

Australians homes and businesses produce more than a million tonnes of paper waste each year. Additionally, each tonne of paper equates to about 13 trees cut down.

Here are other reasons why recycling magazines with staples, or mixed paper, or just paper in general, need to be recycled:

  1. Removes, or at least reduces the possibility of paper going into landfill
  2. Conserves natural resources like wood, water, energy, and other materials
  3.  Reduces production of greenhouse gases
  4. Gives more job opportunities for people in the paper recycling industry

You do not need to do anything other than to place glossy magazines in your recycling bin and remove some contents.

Technically, according to Earth 911, you don’t have to do anything with your magazines before recycling. Items such as staples, cardstock, and perfume samples need not be taken away, as well as the cover and binding. Additionally, you should remove the plastic bag it came with; you should recycle them separately.

Very old magazines turning yellowish or tan, due to oxidation, should be put in the trash. That is because no recycling market exists to accommodate it.

 

magazines with staples recycling

How is the recycling process done?

The first step in the recycling process includes separating mixed paper parts. Next, it is then baled and sent to a mill.

After that, recyclers then break them into fibres by introducing water and chemicals to break the paper down. They then remove any ink and sticky adhesive, and they start to bond the paper together. Finally, the fibres are then dried and rolled, ready to be made into new products. This includes products like coffee filters, egg cartons, and paper towels.

Generally speaking, paper can be recycled six to seven times before finally losing its recyclable qualities.

 

Why you should recycle your glossy magazines

In Australia, Australian businesses and households combined produce more than a million tonnes of paper waste each year. That is a significant amount of paper waste and should be addressed properly.

So, we provide you with two heavy reasons why you should recycle your glossy magazines below.

  1. It provides your area with some much-needed space. Unbeknownst to others, space is one of the most valuable commodity you should have in your area. May it be in your house or office, you will always need space. Gathering too much will leave your area lacking of space. Recycling them should give you some breathing room and free up space.
  2. Recycling glossy magazines reduces pollution. Improper disposal of items will pollute the environment. Make sure to recycle your glossy magazines to reduce pollution.

 

Are there other ways to recycle old glossy magazines (or just magazines in general)?

We don’t necessarily need to send magazines with staples to recycling facilities in order for it to get recycled. Technically, normal people like you can very much recycle your old, discarded magazines.

YouTube video

According to diys, here are ways of repurposing, or upcycling, your magazines:

  1. Rolled gradient wall art
  2. Magazine page envelopes
  3. Magazine storage baskets
  4. Paper flowers
  5. Rolled pages picture frame
  6. Decorative rolled page mirror
  7. Rolled wall art
  8. Woven magazine coasters
  9. Rolled magazine clutch
  10. Magazine page shoes
  11. Quote canvas arts
  12. Paper beads
  13. Hanging door wreaths
  14. Magazine gift bags
  15. Magazine stack tools

Check out diy’s official website to find out cool ways on how to recycle magazines!

 

Can you recycle magazines with staples? Waster with paper

If you read our blogs regularly, then you already know that Waster offers all kinds of paper recycling collection services. Aside from magazine with staples recycling, Waster collects similar materials like that.

waster cardboard paper collection

When we first discuss with you on what recycling bin you should avail from us, we always offer paper and cardboard recycling first. That is because it is a must-have if you want to implement an effective recycling plan in your place.

So, picking Waster as your waste management and recycling service provider for your magazines with staples, or other items, is a great way to maintain your business’s cleanliness – all the while helping to sustain the environment.

Additionally, check our services regarding confidential paper destruction and TerraCycle – Office Supplies Zero-Waste Box. Help boost paper recycling!

 

 

Our final thoughts on this blog

You should always aim to recycle your glossy magazines. Just make sure to consult with your local council to learn if you can recycle them or not.

On a different note, not only do we do blogs, but we also create informative and interesting videos on YouTube. Watch our latest video discussing circular economy and recycling.

YouTube video

 

Contact Waster today for your waste and recycling needs!

Does your Australian-based business need waste and recycling services? If so, then you have come to the right web page!

Please call 1300 WASTER (1300 927 837).  You can also email us at enquiries@waster.com.au if you have any further questions. Find the best deals in terms of waste and recycling pricing and services!

 

commingled recycling cta