The Law: Under Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law, all paper and cardboard products are BANNED FROM THE LANDFILL. Recycling is mandatory for all residents and businesses. These materials must be kept clean and dry to ensure they can be made into new products.

📦 Cardboard & Boxboard

  • Corrugated Cardboard: Thick, layered shipping boxes (like Amazon boxes).

  • Boxboard: Thin, single-layer cardboard (cereal, crackers, shoe boxes, and gift boxes).

  • Preparation: 1. Empty: Remove all plastic liners, styrofoam, and packing peanuts. 2. Flatten: All boxes must be broken down flat before being placed in the recycling container to save space. 3. Clean: Cut out any sections heavily saturated with grease (like the bottom of a pizza box). These greasy parts should go in your Food Scraps/Compost.

📄 Mixed Paper & Newspaper

  • Accepted: Newspapers, inserts, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, envelopes (window envelopes are fine), and paper egg cartons.

  • Preparation: Paper must be clean and dry. Wet or moldy paper cannot be recycled and should be composted or trashed.

🤫 Shredded Paper

Shredded paper is difficult to manage at large sorting facilities because the small pieces fall through the machinery.

  • Preparation: Do not throw loose shredded paper into a mixed recycling bin. Place it inside a paper bag and staple the top shut before recycling.

  • Pro Tip: Shredded paper makes excellent brown material for your home compost pile or bedding for small animals.

🚫 What is NOT Accepted?

These items contaminate the recycling stream and belong in the trash or compost:

  • Waxed Cardboard: Often used for frozen foods or produce (if you can scrape wax off with your thumbnail, it’s not recyclable).

  • Coated Paper: Paper plates, coffee cups, and frozen food boxes with a plastic/poly-coating.

  • Dirty Paper: Used paper towels, napkins, or tissues (these should be composted!).

  • Padded Envelopes: Envelopes with bubble wrap lining are made of mixed materials and cannot be recycled as paper.

📍 How to Recycle

  • At the Transfer Station: Follow the signage at your local site. Some towns collect all recyclables together, while others may ask you to put cardboard in a separate bin.

  • Curbside: If you have a private hauler, they are required by law to provide recycling collection.