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Can I recycle ... Post-it Notes?

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3M Post-it Notes and their even stickier counterpart, Post-it Super Sticky Notes, are recyclable in L.A.’s blue bin. While the notes are typically colored and also have an adhesive strip on one side, the dye and the pressure-sensitive glue are mostly removed from the paper in a chemical de-inking and pulping process that separates them from the paper, enabling the paper to still be recycled.

Some other adhesives are OK for recycling, such as those on the backs of business envelopes; on labels on cans and glass or plastic bottles; and on cardboard and product boxes. Those are all water soluble, L.A. Sanitation officials say.

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But other adhesives shouldn’t go in the blue bin. The adhesive on address or shipping label sheets tends to ball up and mar finished paper products. Scotch tape, painters tape and masking tape are not recyclable. Neither is duct tape; it is made of layers of waterproof material.

Because policies and recommendations can vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from different municipalities to weigh in.

Can you recycle Post-it Notes in …

Glendale: Yes
Manhattan Beach: Yes
West Hollywood: Yes
Torrance: Yes

-- Susan Carpenter

Drawing by Steve Sedam / For The Times

Each week we explain the recycling potential for an item that might be confusing. Here are some previous Can I Recycle columns:

Store receipts?

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Milk cartons?

Pizza boxes?

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