Why they’re separate
Paper recycling soaks paper in water and recovers the fibers. A receipt’s heat-sensitive coating, the polyethylene lining inside cups and cartons, and food grease either won’t break down or contaminate the batch.
Item by item
| Item | Where it goes | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Store receipt (thermal paper) | Trash bag | National guideline. Keep out of paper |
| Paper cup | Rinsed, stacked and bundled separately | Or with cartons, per local rules |
| Milk / juice carton | Carton bin | Rinse and dry. No carton bin: tie and set beside the paper |
| Chicken / pizza box | Clean parts in paper | Grease-soaked inner paper in the trash bag |
| Delivery box | Paper | Remove tape, labels and staples, flatten |
| Glossy flyer, baking paper | Usually general waste | Coating or grease |
Cartons are their own thing
Milk and juice cartons are made from high-quality pulp and get recycled into tissue, but once mixed with regular paper they can’t be picked back out. If your building has no carton bin, tie them together so they stay separate from the rest of the paper.
Check in the app
See the category on each item
In Waste Sorting Guide every item shows its category under the name. Paper cup and Chicken box sit under Paper; Receipt and Wallpaper sit under General waste.
Recently viewed
Items you look up stay under Recently viewed on the home screen, so the receipt you checked yesterday is one tap away.
FAQ
How do I know a receipt is thermal paper?
Most store and card receipts are. Scratch the printed side hard with a fingernail; a dark line means thermal paper.
Do I need to peel the lining off a paper cup?
No. Empty it, rinse it and put it out separately.
Waste Sorting Guide - Recycle
Search offline, no sign-up. Free on Android.