Paper RecyclingIt takes only a little effort on your part to sort used paper for recycling. Yet recycling paper
can have a big effect on the environment. |
Every time I have some moment on the seashore or in the mountains, or sometimes in a quiet forest, I think, "this is why the environment has to be preserved."
—Bill Bradley |
10 Reasons to Recycle Used Paper
Here’s a list of 10 environmental benefits of paper recycling. By recycling your used paper materials you can support the environmental movement—save energy and landfill space, conserve natural resources, and help to prevent pollution.
10. Saves Wood and Trees
Recycling your old newspapers can make a big difference. Recycling one ton of newsprint saves about 1 ton of wood. That equals about 17 mature trees. In fact, if even half of the paper in the world is recycled this may avoid harvesting 20 million acres of the world’s forestland. 9. Saves Water
Send your junk mail paper to recycling and save fresh water. Papermaking uses a lot of water. Your recycled paper helps reduces water consumption. Recycling one ton of paper may save 7,000 gallons of water. 8. Saves Landfill Space
Fill your recycling bin with paper, not the trash can. Recycling one ton of paper may save three cubic yards of landfill space. That’s a big impact on waste disposal. 7. Saves Barrels of Oil
Recycle your used copy paper as a way to help conserve natural resources. Recycling one ton of paper may save two barrels of oil 6. Saves Electricity
Recycling used printout papers helps reduce energy consumption. Recycling one ton of paper saves 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity—that’s the electrical power to an average U.S. household for about five months. 
5. Reduces Greenhouse Gases
When you recycle your old magazines, you can help to diminish greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. There is reduced methane emissions and less energy required. Recycling one ton of paper reduces greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE). 4. Extends Fiber Supply
The empty cereal box papers that you recycle can reduce the amount of new fiber necessary. Recovered paper makes up part of the raw materials used in paper mills. Most of America’s paper mills now use recovered fiber in some or even all of their products. 3. Decreases Need for Disposal
Recycle your old catalogs to keep them out of the waste-disposal cycle. Papers sent recycling centers decrease the need for disposal by either landfill or incineration. This decreases the amount of CO2 produced as a benefit. 2. Contributes to Carbon Sequestration
Recycling your empty food boxes supports carbon sequestration. Harvesting trees for papermaking releases carbon (CO2). Recycled paper reduces this rate of release. When the rate of carbon absorption by the environment is more than the rate of release, it is sequestered. Carbon sequestration reduces greenhouse gases by removing some of the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 1. Improves the Environment
Your recycled paper bags can contribute to less pollution in the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that using recycled papers causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than using only raw materials in making virgin paper. Source of Facts: US (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency
|
|
|
You can recycle your newspapers, junk mail, used copy or printer paper, some kinds of cardboard, and old catalogs. You may find it is quite easy to recycle. Set up a recycle bin for collecting and take to your local recycling center. Many communities now have door-to-door pickups, as well.
You can also support the recycling movement and the environment by buying recycled paper goods. Look for labels on paper goods that tell how much of the paper is recycled material. More articles like this about the environment. |
CommentsAdd your Questions or Comments HERE.
Be the first to comment on this article.
|
