Newspapers Put in Recycling Cart/Bin Recycle clean paper. Staples and tape are OK. Do not recycle paper that has foil or grease/food residue. Recycle Bag with Other Plastic Films Newspaper bags can be recycled with plastic film, which are recycled separately from plastic container recycling. Find out how to recycle plastic bags and film. Compost It You can compost newspapers because they are made from paper that is clean and non-treated; almost all modern newspapers are printed using a plant-based ink. Ways to Reuse Use as Packaging Consider using newspaper for packaging instead of bubble wrap. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts cannot be recycled, while newspaper is cheaper and more eco-friendly. Did You Know? How Paper Gets Recycled Newspapers make up the largest portion of curbside recycling programs in weight and volume.