Can you recycle books?

Books in readable condition should be donated to charity shops, community libraries or book banks rather than recycled. Damaged paperbacks can go in kerbside recycling in many areas, but hardback covers contain glue and board that most councils reject — tear the pages out and recycle those, binning the cover. Some councils accept whole books at recycling centres in the paper skip.

Tips

• Donate first — even tatty books are resold for pulp by charities
• Tear pages from damaged hardbacks and recycle the pages only
• Check WeBuyBooks-style apps for valuable titles

Which bin does it go in?

Charity shop or book bank first; paperback pages can be recycled if damaged

Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.

Background: The 10 recycling mistakes that ruin lorry-loads.

Also searched as: paperbacks, hardbacks, novels.