English: Used paper is collected for paper recycling in Ponte a Serraglio near Bagni di Lucca, Italy Deutsch: Altpapier auf einem Recyclinghof in Ponte a Serraglio bei Bagni di Lucca, Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The popularity of recycling paper and other products is growing in our society. Many people are beginning to realize the negative and harmful effects not recycling is having on our Earth. Many companies are beginning to take on the challenge of recycling as well.
According to a press release on American Forest & Paper Association’s, AF&PA, website titled, “American Forest & Paper Association Presents Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with 2012 AF&PA Community Paper Recycling Award,” the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington, won the 2012 AF&PA Community Paper Recycling Award. According to the release, the base recovered 2,664,000 pounds of paper and paper-based packaging. This is the average of 222 pounds of recycling per person.
According to the press release, the recycling program began in 1990 as part of a larger effort to change the way the Navy bases across the globe conducted business. In the last five years, 7,300 tons of paper has been recovered for recycling.
According to the press release, AF&PA recently announced in 2011 the U.S. reached a record-high recovery rate of paper – 66.8%. The press release states “This is equivalent to 52.8 million tons and enough to fill 9,280 railroad box cars spanning the distance from New York to Los Angeles more than three times.” By 2020, the goal is to reach 70%.
Share your thoughts. Do you think recycling is becoming a staple in our society?
