If you are anything like me who loves reading a lot and his bookshelf is just overloaded with books and want to clear out some space or just want to get rid of some old books that aren’t readable anymore then don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ve gone through this situation and I will guide you through the whole process of recycling books.
Can You Put Books in the Recycling Bin?
Yes, you can put books(paperback) in the recycling bin and they can be recycled. But for hardcover books, you’ll have to separate the pages either by cutting or ripping the binding cover. Out of which pages would be recycled and the hardcover must be thrown in the trash as it can not be recycled.
There are a lot of factors you have to check before recycling books such as where you live and is your book paperback or hardcover. Depending on the book, you might have to do some work yourselves before you recycle it such as separating the binding if it is a hardcover book or finding out if there are any recycling center in your area that takes hardcover books. Use this recycling center locator to find out a book recycling center near you.
Before going into the details, I would highly suggest seeing if any of the books you are going to recycle is in good condition or readable. If it is, then selling or donating it would be a better idea instead of recycling it. There are a lot more things that you can do with your old books in order to get rid of them. Click here to read more about it.
But if you have checked them all and really think that recycling is the only way to go then read and find out about the whole process of recycling books.
How To Recycle A Paperback Book?
If you live in the United States then recycling a paperback book is going to be pretty simple. Just throw it in the same recycle bin where you throw your normal paper and you would be good to go.
If you live in other countries such as UK or Canada, then the recycling process can be a bit complicated. Recycle centers in these countries don’t usually take books regardless of paperback or hardcover because of the glue that is used for binding the pages in books. But you can try to find out if there are any recycling centers that recycle books.
How To Recycle A Hardcover Book?
This is where things get a bit different. In the US, they only take pages of hardcover books, not the hardcover itself as it can not be recycled. So you’ll have to remove the hardcover binding from the books and separate the pages manually. Only then, you would be able to recycle the hardcover books and yes, the hardcover binding must be thrown in the trash.
If you are from another country, then unfortunately you’ll have to find out yourself if there is any recycling center in your area that takes hardcover books.
Note: Keep in mind that moldy pages of the book(paperback or hardcover) can not be recycled. So, it’s a good practice to flip through your book’s pages and make sure that there are no moldy pages before recycling them. If there are any then they should be removed manually and disposed of in the trash.
Other Options
If you don’t have time to go through the whole process of recycling books or can’t find any recycling center near you that take books, then don’t worry. There are a lot of other better things you can do in order to get rid of your old books. Click here to read more about them.
Why Should You Recycle Your Books?
Here’s how your book recycling can help the environment:
- Recycling one ton of paper saves 3 cubic yards of landfill space, preserves 380 gallons of oil, saves the lives of 17 trees, and additionally saves 4,000 kilowatts of energy and 7,000 gallons of water.
- Only 33% of new paper pulp is recovered from recycled materials. The remaining is got from cutting trees. In simple words, more recyclable paper = more pulp = less deforestation.
Now it totally depends upon you whether you want to recycle your books or want to get rid of them in other ways such as donations. Elsewise, I really appreciate your eco-friendly thoughts on recycling books and making this world a better place for everyone. I have mentioned some other frequently asked questions below as well. So make sure to read those as well!
FAQ’s
Can I recycle books in the curbside recycling program?
Yes, you can recycle your paperback books in the curbside recycling program. Although, you’ll have to check out for hardcover books as most of the programs exclude them because of the hardcover binding which can not be recycled.
Why can’t wet books be recycled?
Wet books can’t be recycled because the fiber of the paper gets changed when the books get wet resulting in making it more stiffer. Also, paper mills are less interested in paying for wet pages because of the additional weight it gains because of the water.
Can textbooks be recycled?
Yes, textbooks can be recycled but you’ll have to get rid of the binding and separate it from the pages before recycling the books as they’re similar to hardcover books.
Are there any states that require book and magazine recycling?
Yes, there are several states that have passed laws requiring paper products to be recycled. Such states are Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as Washington, D.C.
