People living in North and East Herts are being urged to help the environment by making sure they are recycling paper properly.

Separating paper from mixed recyclables and general waste helps to keep council service costs down, and recycling paper correctly uses much less energy than making paper from scratch.

By following North Herts Council's 'Recycle Right' guidelines and keeping paper separate and free from contamination in your blue recycling box, it is more easily turned into new products - which in turn helps reduce the cost of providing services to residents.

In 2022/2023, residents of North and East Herts recycled 2,084 tonnes of paper, but despite this a substantial amount of paper is being put in rubbish bins or the purple mixed recycling bin.

Paper - for example magazines, brochures, catalogues, newspapers, printer paper and white envelopes (even those with windows) - is loaded into its own compartment on the council's recycling vehicles and transported to Palm Recycling, who turn it into newsprint and other paper products.

Cllr Amy Allen, North Herts Council's executive member for recycling and waste, said: "Recycling your paper separately is really easy and important.

"We’re asking residents to check their paper recycling habits and use a separate box, which in return we’ll get money to put back into the service, keeping the costs down.

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"Plus you’ll have more room in your recycling bin for cardboard, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, tins, cans, and glass.

"So please dig out your blue box or order one online or give us a call.

"We all need to do our bit for the environment and recycling more of our household waste in the right way is an easy starting point."

The council's tips for recycling paper in the blue kerbside box are as follows:

  • Keep your paper separate
  • Keep it dry – save your paper for another collection if it's raining.
  • Please prevent litter – put shredded paper in a paper bag in your box and avoid putting your box out on a windy day.
  • Please put brown envelopes (even with windows) with cardboard in your mixed recycling bin.