Stickers Go in the Garbage
Stickers may seem like paper, but their adhesive backing is not recyclable and can contaminate paper recycling. Toss stickers — and the backing sheets they come on — in the garbage.
Small Stickers OK on Paper & Cardboard
You can still recycle paper that has a small sticker or two. Paper containing large or many pieces of stickers must be thrown away in the garbage if the stickers are not able to be peeled away.
Don't Compost Produce Stickers
Be sure to pick stickers off of your produce before tossing them in the compost! Otherwise, they can contaminate the compost and clog sewer pipes.
Ways to Reduce
Donate Unwanted Stickers
If you have a lot of stickers left over from a craft project, consider giving them to someone who will use them.
Say “No” to Free Stickers
A lot of organizations like to hand out promotional stickers to advertise their company or cause. If you refuse them in the first place, you won’t take home something you’ll need to throw away later.
Buy Produce from the Farmers' Market
To avoid produce stickers, buy your fruits and vegetables at a local farmers’ market!
Use Eco-friendly Labels
If you use labels for packages, choose environmentally-friendly options. Examples include labels utilizing “compostable adhesives” and “zero waste label liners.”
Ways to Reuse
Use Up That Sticker Collection
Have a collection of stickers but not sure what to do with them? You can put stickers on nearly anything. Check out these ideas from First Quarter Finance or Bucks and Cents to get started.
