Ring Files
Recyclable?
Blue Bins & Chutes
Other Recycling
Recommended
Freecycle / Give Away
Offer through freecycling channels
Unfortunately, it's hard to give away old arch files because of oversupply. Generally people store less information on paper than they used to so a lot of these files get available every time an office does a clean out or someone Marie Kondo's their home.
Carousell
Olio
GoodHood
Online Freecycle Groups
Singapore Really Really Free Market
Alternative
Recycling Bins & Chutes
While these binders are not considered recyclable, some parts can be salvaged.
The metal binder mechanism as well as any cardboard you can separate from plastic may be recyclable. See below.
Alternative
Trash
If you are unable to disassemble the ring file into recyclable and non-recyclable components, put it in the trash.
Always trash the plastic covering.
Info & Insights
The ring binder mechanism is metal and recyclable.
Likewise some file types have metal “ports” which are recyclable IF you are able to remove them from the cover. However they are very difficult to remove.
Ring files are typically covered with either
- cardboard covered in vinyl (hard cover binders)
- plastic (soft cover binders)
- embossed cardboard
If you can remove the cardboard from the plastic cover, it can be recycled.
Unfortunately this covering is often glued on making removal impossible.
The plastic covers are not made from a kind of plastic that can be recycled.
