Can Receipts Be Recycled? Environmental Impacts and Alternatives

Unpack the truth about receipt recycling, health risks, and greener solutions for paper waste reduction.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Unpack the truth about receipt recycling, health risks, and greener solutions for paper waste reduction.

Can Receipts Be Recycled?

Whether or not receipts can be recycled is a surprisingly complex question with significant environmental and health implications. Though the slip of paper handed over at every transaction appears harmless, most receipts are made with chemicals that disrupt recycling, contaminate compost, and pose health concerns for both consumers and workers. Understanding the types of receipt paper, the dangers of their chemical coatings, and sustainable alternatives is essential to reducing their waste footprint.

Types of Receipts: Not All Paper Is Created Equal

Receipts generally come in two primary forms, which differ not only in feel and appearance but also in their impact on recycling and health:

Standard (bond) paper receipts: These look and feel like regular paper, often come with faded or handwritten ink, and may be recycled similar to other paper if they lack chemical coatings.
Thermal paper receipts: Found in most retail stores, gas stations, and ATMs, these are shiny, slick, and use heat-activated dyes (not ink) to print information. The text appears vibrant and sharp. Most significantly, they are coated with chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol A) or BPS (Bisphenol S).

A study by the Ecology Center found that over 93% of tested receipts in the U.S. contained either BPA or BPS, highlighting their ubiquity and the challenge of safely processing them in traditional recycling streams.

The Chemistry of Receipts: Why Most Cannot Be Recycled

While paper is one of the most commonly recycled materials, thermal paper receipts pose serious problems when included in recycling:

BPA and BPS coatings cannot be filtered out during the recycling process. If receipts are included with paper recycling, they risk contaminating the entire batch, leading to BPA/BPS-tainted recycled products such as napkins, tissues, and food packaging. This is a significant health concern, especially for products in contact with food or skin.
Visible Differences: Thermal paper is usually shiny, feels slick, and prints with dark, heat-based letters, whereas uncoated receipts are dull, often faded, and safe for paper recycling (if genuinely uncoated).

Due to these factors, most recycling facilities instruct users to throw receipts in the trash rather than risk contaminating recyclables. The rare exception is for receipts specifically labeled as “BPA/BPS free” or those that are clearly non-thermal, but such distinctions are typically not obvious to the consumer.

Environmental and Health Impacts of Thermal Paper

The issues with thermal receipts extend beyond recycling challenges. Their production, use, and disposal contribute to multiple environmental problems:

Resource Waste: Paper receipts require millions of trees and vast amounts of water to produce each year, only to be largely discarded minutes after transactions. The entire life cycle, from forest to landfill, is resource intensive and frequently unnecessary with digital alternatives available.
Toxic Chemicals: BPA and BPS are known endocrine disruptors. They not only pose an occupational hazard for store workers who handle hundreds of receipts each day but also enter our bodies through skin contact. Numerous studies have linked BPA and BPS exposure to hormonal imbalances, developmental issues in children, and other health concerns.
Landfill Impact: Because most receipts cannot be recycled or composted, they ultimately end up in landfill, perpetuating both physical waste and chemical leaching risks as they degrade.

Are Receipts Compostable?

Many people assume that if receipts cannot be recycled, perhaps they can be composted. Unfortunately, this carries its own risks. Composting thermal receipts actually disperses BPA and BPS into the soil, where they can contaminate the food chain and surface water.

BPA/BPS Contamination: Thermal paper receipts should never be composted due to these chemicals. The effects on plant growth and long-term soil health are still being studied, but the risk of introducing persistent contaminants is high.
Some communities may allow composting of receipts that are specifically labeled as uncoated or BPA/BPS-free. Unless you are certain, composting should be strictly avoided.

How to Identify Thermal Receipts

Determining whether your receipt is made from thermal paper is important before you consider any recycling or composting options. Here are some practical tips:

Shiny surface and smooth texture
Text appears to be printed without ink (no ink smudges if you run a wet finger over the print)
Black or dark print that is vivid and uniform across the paper
A quick test: Scratch a coin on a blank part of the receipt. If a dark mark appears, it’s thermal paper.

Unless a receipt is obviously uncoated or labeled BPA/BPS-free (which is rare), the safest assumption is that it is thermal paper and should not be recycled or composted.

Proper Disposal: What Should You Do with Receipts?

Given the risks involved, the best way to dispose of most receipts is in regular trash. This helps minimize the risk of contaminating both recycled paper streams and compost systems.

Throw in landfill-bound trash: Place any questionable or shiny receipts in the garbage.
Wash your hands after handling thermal receipts, especially before eating, to minimize skin exposure to BPA/BPS.
Check for local guidelines: Some municipalities accept certain receipts in paper recycling, but this is rare. Always consult your local sanitation department for precise information.

If you are certain you have a BPA/BPS-free or handwritten receipt on ordinary (dull, non-shiny) paper, you may recycle it with regular mixed paper. But since it is challenging to confirm, when in doubt, opt for the trash.

Waste Reduction and Greener Alternatives

Reducing the environmental impact of receipts begins with prevention:

Opt for digital receipts: Most retailers now provide email or text receipts. Request these whenever possible to cut down on both paper and chemical waste.
Decline unnecessary receipts: For purchases where proof is not needed (e.g., small cash transactions), simply say no.
Support retailers with eco-friendly policies: Some companies, such as CVS, have started switching to phenol-free paper and expanded digital receipt options in response to public advocacy. Choosing such businesses encourages broader industry change.
Advocate for policy change: Support local and state initiatives that require BPA/BPS-free receipts or make digital receipts standard. The “Skip the Slip” campaign is a good example of coordinated action driving retailer and regulatory change.

Corporate Progress: Retailer Initiatives to Reduce Receipt Waste

Awareness about the environmental and health hazards of receipts has prompted action from major companies and advocacy groups:

CVS: In recent years, CVS implemented phenol-free receipt paper in all stores and expanded its digital receipt program, saving millions of yards of receipt paper. Digital opt-ins are promoted at checkout, allowing customers to choose print, digital, or no receipt at all.
Other Retailers: Many national retailers are testing similar initiatives, making digital receipts easier to access or shortening printed receipts. However, worldwide adoption remains slow and varied.
Advocacy & Campaigns: The “Skip the Slip” campaign, for example, has spurred industry action and legislative proposals aimed at reducing the use of toxic thermal paper, encouraging both digital adoption and the switch to safer paper products.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are all receipts made with BPA or BPS?

No, but the vast majority of thermal receipts in retail, banking, and fuel stations contain BPA or BPS. Less common alternatives exist but are not widely used or clearly marked for consumers.

Can I put receipts in my home recycling bin?

Most receipts, especially shiny or thermal ones, should never be placed in your recycling bin due to their chemical coatings. Always refer to local recycling rules, but when in doubt, dispose of them in the regular trash.

Is it safe to handle receipts?

Short-term, infrequent handling is low risk, but regular or prolonged exposure to BPA/BPS-coated receipts is a health concern, especially for cashiers and retail workers. Wash your hands after handling receipts and avoid contact with food.

Can receipts be burned to destroy them?

It is not recommended to burn receipts, especially indoors or in open fires. Burning BPA/BPS-coated paper can release hazardous chemicals into the air, causing potential respiratory and environmental harm.

Is there a safe way to dispose of receipts?

The safest method for most receipts is to place them in the trash. For receipts verified as BPA/BPS-free, recycling is safe—but these are rare and may not always be clearly identified.

BPA-Free and Digital Future: Pathways to Greener Transactions

While the widespread switch to digital receipts and BPA/BPS-free papers offers a promising step forward, these alternatives rely on both corporate policy and consumer choice. You can contribute by:

Choosing digital receipts at every available opportunity.
Requesting BPA/BPS-free options where possible and encouraging retailers to adopt non-toxic paper or e-receipt systems.
Spreading awareness about the hidden impacts of “simple” paper receipts on recycling, health, and our environment.

Key Takeaways

Most receipts cannot be recycled or composted due to BPA/BPS coatings.
Dispose of receipts in the trash and wash hands after handling.
Embrace and advocate for digital receipts to reduce waste and chemical exposure.
Support policies and businesses moving toward safer paper and digital systems.

Quick Reference Table: Receipt Disposal Options

Receipt Type	Recycle?	Compost?	Landfill Trash?	Comments
Thermal (shiny, BPA/BPS)	No	No	Yes	Most common; do NOT recycle or compost
Non-thermal (dull, faded ink)	Yes*	Possibly*	Yes	Only if confirmed chemical-free
Digital/Electronic	N/A	N/A	No	Best for environment, no physical waste

*Always check local recycling and composting guidelines; if unsure, use landfill trash disposal.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete