Why Use Recycled Paper?

The impacts of society’s paper use on the environment are significant and alarming. For example, to produce each week’s Sunday newspaper, 500,000 trees must be cut down. Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees. If Americans would recycle just one-tenth of their newspapers we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year. Paper waste accounts for 40% of all municipal waste by weight and 50% by volume.
Recycling helps preserve the environment, supports our economy and can save you money. One of the best ways to really make recycling work is to use recycled paper products. It’s up to us to close the recycling loop by purchasing recycled content products. Use this guide on recycled paper to learn about the benefits of recycling and using recycled paper.
What is recycled paper?
Recycled paper is paper made from recovered waste paper and re-made into new paper products.
What are the benefits of using recycled paper?

• Using Recycled Paper Saves Our Natural Resources
Recycling saves trees and water. Making a ton of paper from recycled feedstock saves up to 17 trees and uses 50% less water (that’s 7000 gallons) than virgin paper manufacturing.
• Using Recycled Paper Saves Energy
Recycling paper uses about 65% less energy than the process of cutting down new trees and manufacturing them into paper pulp. Significant amounts of energy and fossil fuels are required to complete the virgin paper manufacturing process.
• Using Recycled Paper Saves Our Environment
Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps slow global climate change. Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is created by gasses escaping from entombed paper in landfills.
• Using Recycled Paper Reduces Pollution
The paper industry is one of the largest water and air polluters in the world. The EPA has found that recycling achieves 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution. Also, recycling mills tend to use more earth-friendly bleaching processes than traditional mills that will often use chlorine compounds to whiten paper. Chlorine bleaching compounds can create dioxins and furans which are extremely toxic and harmful to humans and wildlife.
• Using Recycled Paper Cuts Waste
Landfill sites are filling up with waste paper that could be used to make recycled paper. By converting waste into new products, we slow the pace in which our landfills will fill and reach capacity.

The benefits of using recycled paper are significant contributors in our quest for a better environment and a better world both for ourselves and the future generations. Recycling and using recycled paper in our homes, offices and schools creates a positive impact on our natural environment, available energy resources and our economy. Start today.