Are Paper Clips Recyclable​? And How Can You do It

A decent-sized office uses 500 – 1000 paper clips every month. However, they are considered trash after the documents have served their purpose. You cannot just throw them in the trash can because they may end up in landfill. Are paper clips recyclable? This blog post gives you a detailed answer.

Are Paper Clips Environmentally Friendly?

Let’s determine this before you move on to the answer to “Are paper clips recyclable?”.

Yes, most paper clips are environmentally friendly because they are made of steel or brass. Both metals are biodegradable and will rust and break down eventually. 

However, the more time they are left in landfill, the more they can harm the soil. Metals can:

• Disturb the soil’s structure
• Limit its water-holding capacity
• Make plants’ nutrition uptake difficult

Alternatively, plastic paper clips are non-biodegradable. So, you cannot just throw them in the trash and be done about it. They are definitely not environmentally friendly. 

Are Paper Clips Recyclable?

Yes, metal paper clips are recyclable. They can be melted and made into other materials.

However, they must be separated from other scrap materials first. It may be time-consuming because they are so small. Also, people generally don’t pack them separately for recycling.

What’s more, they might get tangled in the recycling machine and contaminate other materials. You must check with your local recycling center if they accept paper clips.

On the other hand, plastic paper clips are not recyclable. They can be if they are made of thermoplastics. If they are made of thermoset plastics, they cannot be recycled into other stuff.

How Should You Dispose of Paper Clips?

You must dispose of your office paper clips properly to protect the environment. Collect them in a jar when they get too rusty and discolored. 

Once the jar is complete, you can take it to your local scrap metal yard or a recycling company. Their volume is far less than the 100 – 200 lbs of disposable office paper you use per month, so it may take less time to separate them.

Plastic paper clips are different. You can use them for a long time because they don’t wear out quickly.

If you don’t want to use them, you must collect them separately nonetheless. The recycling center may be able to use the paper clips to make other things.

What More Can You Do With Paper Clips?

If scrap yards or recyclers don’t accept a small quantity, you can keep collecting them until they are enough. Or you can do this:

Reuse Them Yourself

It is the most convenient option. You may not have enough time to separate used paper clips from documents and employees’ drawers. 

So, you can keep on reusing them until their color fades (which won’t happen for a long time). You may save some money, too, because you won’t have to buy more every month.

Donate Them  

Yes, you can use metal and plastic paper clips for charity, too. You can take your full jar over to local schools or non-profit organizations in your area. 

They are always happy to accept donations, especially office supplies. True, this donation might seem a bit unusual, but it won’t be unwelcome.

Upcycle Them

Another option is to use them for other purposes. You can make:

• Jewelry – Chains, earring hooks, and pendants
• Home Decor – Photo holders or abstract mini-art 
• Functional products – Phone stands, hooks, cable organizers

Conclusion

Are paper clips recyclable? They can be if they are made of metal or thermoplastics. You can find out by collecting and sending them to a recycling center. Otherwise, you can donate them to charities or upcycle them as jewelry or phone stands.