Paper / Papir
See the most important Danish waste categories and how correct sorting helps materials move on to recycling.
Click a waste category to read more about it.
In short
Paper includes newspapers, advertisements, magazines, letters, envelopes and office paper. It should be dry and reasonably clean so the fibres can be recycled into new paper products.
Common mistakes
- Wet, greasy or dirty paper should not be sorted as paper.
- Baking paper, greaseproof paper and napkins normally do not belong in paper recycling.
- Gift wrap may contain plastic, metal foil or glitter and often needs different sorting.
- Books, binders and laminated paper may require recycling centre delivery or another sorting category.
Clean and dry or contaminated?
Clean and dry paper can be recycled
Newspapers, advertisements, letters, envelopes, office paper, magazines, brochures, notebooks without hard covers and paper bags can usually be sorted as paper.
Wet and greasy paper lowers the quality
Paper with food, grease, liquid, wax, plastic coating or large amounts of tape can reduce recycling quality and often belongs in residual waste or should follow the specific sorting result.
Check local rules
Danish municipalities may have different rules for gift wrap, window envelopes, books, shredded paper, paper bags and whether paper is collected together with cardboard. Find your municipality.
Paper as a waste category
Paper is one of the best-known recyclable waste categories. In Denmark, newspapers, office paper, envelopes, magazines and paper bags can often be collected separately and recycled into new paper products.
What to remember
Paper should be reasonably clean and dry. Dirty, wet, greasy or coated paper can reduce the quality of recycling and may need to go in residual waste. Books, baking paper and gift wrap are often handled differently, so always follow the specific sorting result.
FAQ about paper
Does paper need to be completely clean?+
It does not need to be perfect, but it should be dry and free from larger amounts of food, grease and liquid so the fibres can be recycled.
Can window envelopes go in paper recycling?+
Often yes, but rules can vary. Many sorting facilities can handle small plastic windows, while some municipalities recommend following local rules.
Where should baking paper go?+
Baking paper is often treated with coating and grease and should normally not go in paper recycling. It usually belongs in residual waste.
Can gift wrap go in paper recycling?+
Not always. Gift wrap may contain plastic, metal foil, dyes or glitter that can reduce recycling quality. Check the specific sorting guidance.
Are paper and cardboard the same?+
No. Paper and cardboard are often recycled differently. Cardboard boxes and thick carton usually go with cardboard, while newspapers and office paper go with paper.
Waste items sorted as paper / Papir
Advertising leaflets
Bakery bag
Baking soda paper bag
Birthday card
Bread bag
Brochure
Business card
Carrier bag
Christmas wrapping paper
Cigarette paper
Coloured paper
Comic book
Copy paper
Daily newspaper
Document
Drawing
Envelope
Envelope with window
Flour bag
Flour or grain bag
Gift wrap
Greaseproof paper
Interleaving paper
Letter
Letter paper
Magazine
Muffin case
Newspaper
Notebook
Oat bag
Office paper
Paper
Paper bag
Paper bakery bag
Paper streamers
Paperback book
Periodical magazine
Postcard
Poster
Printed brochure
Printed matter
Printer paper
Protective covering paper
Receipt
Rolling paper
Scratch-off Christmas calendar
Shredded paper
Spiral calendar
Spiral-bound book
Staple
Stapled paper
Sticky note
Sugar bag
Tissue paper
Weekly magazine
Window envelope