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Going green, recycling, and saving the planet are common topics in the news today. However, one industry many would not consider to be green is the paper industry. However, I have found some fun facts which prove how green the paper industry really can be.
What if I told you, according to the EPA’s website, recycling one ton of paper would:
- Save enough energy to power the average American home for six months.
- Save 7,000 gallons of water.
- Save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE).
Doesn’t this make recycling paper more appealing? Just imagine how many resources could be saved if everyone recycled their paper instead of simply tossing it in the trash.
I try to recycle as often as I can. However, I know it can be a difficult task. Some communities do not have easily assessable recycling centers and sometimes saving all that paper can seem to add unnecessary clutter. On the other hand, it seems to be well worth the extra effort.
Paperrecycles.org provides many charts that depict the rates of paper recovery in various aspects of the paper industry. While visiting the website, be sure to take the interactive and informative quiz that provides fun facts about paper recycling.
So next time you go to throw that old newspaper or stash of office papers away, maybe take a second to consider your alternatives.
For more facts about the benefits of paper recycling, check out the EPA’s website.
