Are facial tissues recyclable?

Used facial tissue, if it does not contain plastic as a strengthening agent, can be composted. Clean facial tissue, if it does not contain plastic, can be recycled.

Papers containing plastic generally cannot be recycled along with office paper and other non-plasticized papers. This includes most glossy magazine and brochure paper (some paper is made glossy with clay rather than plastic).

Rumors have been circulated that facial tissue is not recyclable because it generally contains plastic. An Internet search on this topic did not produce any references to this claim, so it may be untrue.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has published a consumer guide to the most ecological facial and toilet tissue brands, based on recycled content and bleaching method: http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp