Usually yes, but what is added to the bag decides it. Here is what changes the answer, in the order it matters.
An uncoated paper bag with paper handles is recyclable in ordinary curbside paper collection almost everywhere. The complications come from what is added to it: plastic lamination, plastic-cored handles, foil, heavy ink coverage, and food residue.
Five things change the answer. Each one is a choice you make when you order the bag.
The bag is now two bonded materials, and most facilities treat it as mixed.
Cord and ribbon handles should be removed before the bag goes in the bin.
A small foil logo is usually tolerated; a fully foiled bag is not.
Oil soaks into the fiber and contaminates the paper stream.
Liners used for wet or hot food turn the bag into a mixed material.
A quick guide to the bags we print, as they leave the shop.
| Bag | Curbside paper recycling | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Kraft paper bags | Yes | Recycle as paper |
| Twisted handle paper bags | Yes | Recycle with the handles on |
| Folded handle paper bags | Yes | Recycle unless greasy |
| Un-laminated paper bags | Yes | Remove cord or ribbon handles first |
| Rope handle paper bags | After prep | Cut off the rope, recycle the paper |
| Laminated paper bags | Check locally | Depends on the local facility |
| Counter bags with food grease | No | Compost or general waste |
If lamination is there to resist grease or rain, it is doing a job. It is worth being honest with customers about that trade-off rather than labeling a laminated bag as fully recyclable.
We will tell you what a bag is made from and what is on it, and we state recycling and certification only where there is paperwork behind it. Ask us for the stock specification on your job.
Unbleached kraft printed with your logo: the easiest bag to recycle.
See this bag
Paper bag and paper handles: one material, straight into recycling.
See this bag
Flat paper handles folded from the bag stock, made for takeout.
See this bag
Coated board without plastic film, for a premium look that stays paper.
See this bagTell us the size and quantity of recyclable paper bags you need. We price your exact job; there are no fixed packages.
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Faster than a form if you already know the bag, the size and the quantity.
The form takes about a minute. If you would rather talk it through, call or email. Either reaches the same team.
Answer three quick questions about what you pack, how heavy it is and whether the bag has to stand open, and we will recommend the stock and the handle.
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