Why are red packets are so hard to recycle?

The use of heavy ink and embellishments like foil stamping can make the recycling process more costly and labor-intensive for paper mills. The ink can contaminate the water used in the process, resulting in the need for more frequent water changes and reducing the possibility of reusing the water. These factors may deter some paper mills from accepting red packets for recycling. Additionally, paper products with heavy decorations or dark-colored dyes are also less desirable for paper mills to recycle.

Despite the challenges associated with recycling red packets, there are a few paper mills around the world that still accept them along with other types of paper. Tay Paper Recycling, based in Singapore, exports red packets and other papers it collects to these paper mills.

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