Educate – Sort – Recycle

Colour Printed Paper

Learn how Gee Hoe Seng Pte Ltd (GHS) manages the recycling of colour printed paper responsibly and efficiently in Singapore.

Colour printed papers are recyclable — but they belong to the mixed paper category rather than black-and-white paper recyclables. The coloured inks used in printing affect pulp purity and must be processed separately to maintain recycling quality.

Collected colour printed papers and marketing materials prepared for recycling in Singapore.

Educate – Sort – Recycle

Is it Recyclable?

Yes — colour printed papers are recyclable, but they cannot be treated as black-and-white paper due to the coloured inks used.

These papers include office documents, brochures, and reports printed in colour. They are recycled as mixed paper, which is processed differently from white paper to maintain pulp quality.

Educate – Sort – Recycle

Why and What Parts Can Be Recycled?

Discover which types of printed paper can be recovered, how the recycling process works, and what limits recyclability.

Here’s why recycling works

  • Colour printed paper contains cellulose fibers that can be recycled multiple times into new paper products.
  • Sorting printed paper by category — white, mixed, or coloured — helps improve recycling efficiency and material recovery.
Recyclable
  • Colour printed documents (flyers, reports, brochures)
  • Mixed papers (colour prints on white paper)
  • Office printouts and colour presentations

What limits recyclability

  • Heavy ink coverage, glossy coatings, glitters, or photo finishes reduce fiber recovery.
  • Laminated or plastic-coated papers cannot be processed into pulp.
  • Wet, oily, or contaminated papers are not suitable for recycling.
Not Recyclable
  • Laminated or plastic-coated papers (e.g., photo paper, waterproof menus)
  • Foil-lined or waxed paper
  • Contaminated or food-stained paper

Note: Any colour-printed content on white or black-and-white paper is classified as mixed paper, not white paper. Proper sorting ensures cleaner recycling streams and higher recovery rates for Singapore’s paper recycling ecosystem.

Additional Information
1) Mixed paper recyclables typically have a lower recycling value due to additional processing requirements.
2) Loads containing mixed paper may be subject to handling or processing charges to cover extra sorting and material recovery efforts.

How to Prepare Before Collection / Drop-Off

  • Sort by category – Separate white paper, mixed paper, and coloured paper before collection.

  • Remove contaminants – Take out plastic covers, binding materials, and clips where possible.