Can you recycle photographs?

Printed photographs are coated with plastic and photographic chemicals, so they cannot go in paper recycling. Put unwanted photos in general waste — and consider scanning them first. Old chemically-developed prints in bulk (e.g. a darkroom clear-out) are still just general waste for households.

Tips

• Scan or photograph prints before discarding
• Modern inkjet 'photo paper' is also coated — same rule

Which bin does it go in?

General waste

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

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

Also searched as: photos, photo prints, snapshots.