Recycling paper is considered one of the easiest means of preventing green house gases like methane, which is 23x’s more potent than carbon dioxide, from entering the atmosphere-the 4th largest cause of gas emissions. In America, the average person consumes over 700 pounds of paper a year, the world’s highest per capita, than fast developing countries like Latin America and Eastern Europe which averages close to 100 pounds per person per year. Emerging economies like China and India are the fastest consumer of paper products on the planet. While the populations growing consumption will outpace paper recycling programs, implementing daily steps can always make the difference in how we address this situation.
By recycling paper which can then be used in products like tissue, paper towels, newspapers, game boards, egg cartons, insulation and packaging material, products made from 100% recycled content will have used 44% less energy, produce 38% less greenhouse gases, 50% less water and 100% less wood. If 1200 pounds of paper equal 1 ton, the amount of resources saved if per ton of paper recycled would estimate to save 17 trees, 60,000 gallons of water, 225 kilowatts of energy, 275 lbs of sulfur and 350 lbs of limestone. That would take 40% of commercial and residential paper waste from going into a landfill.
Think about how many times a day you touch paper-books, napkins, paper dishware, magazines, cereal boxes, labels, catalogs, packaging, copier paper, tissue, money, businesses cards-now just imagine the impact it would have if you recycled all that paper you handled. It is possible to achieve a significant reduction in paper waste if everyone begins to take an active role in recycling paper in our lives. Simple steps can start with you. Remember to recycle your paper waste today. Together, we can all make a difference.
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