Mixed Paper | Solid Waste Division

Paper products are the single greatest component of municipal solid wastes. A little less than 40 percent of the wastes generated in the US is paper. Paper is easily recyclable. In fact, paper products are recycled at a higher rate than any other municipal solid wastes.

In the 1980's, most recycling programs began by recycling newspapers. This seemed like a logical approach to recycling because newspapers tended to accumulate from day to day and took up a lot of space in the trash can when thrown away. However, newspapers compose only 15% of the waste paper stream. Thus, an additional 85% of the waste paper stream is not captured if paper recycling is limited to newspapers only. Furthermore, advances in technology and demand for post-consumer paper has broadened the types of paper that are acceptable for recycling in the US.

Mixed paper is accepted in all Greenville County dropoff locations and convenience centers, and in all municipal curbside programs except Mauldin and Travelers Rest where recycling of paper products is limited to newspapers, only. Mixed paper recycling by private organizations varies.

Mixed paper can be composed of any paper product from newspapers, to junk mail, to phone books, to colored glossy magazines, to bright colored paper, to envelopes and other office paper, to cereal boxes, to toilet paper ends. You name it: mixed paper accepts it. The only exceptions are contaminated products (e.g. paper plates, tissue paper, napkins) and coated paper such as foil wrapping paper and wax lined cartons (e.g., ice cream and frozen foods' containers).

Corrugated cardboard may be dropped off at any Greenville County recycling containers that are manned or unmanned.

Solid Waste Division