Paper

Paper Recycling

In 2016, 66.8 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recycled. Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and if you measure by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling than plastic, aluminum and glass combined. Paper is a material that we’re used to recycling, since 87 percent of us have access to curbside or drop-off recycling for paper.

Additionally, 76 percent of paper mills used some recovered paper in 2011, so the paper you throw into the bin is finding its way into plenty of new products. The process of recycling old paper into new paper might sound like it would be complex, but in reality, it’s pretty straightforward. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even try to recreate this process yourself using everything from old wrapping paper to junk mail.

On an industrial scale, though, paper recycling allows us to save both energy and resources. By recycling one ton of paper we save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and 463 gallons of oil, according to the EPA. Keep reading to find out how the process works and how you can make sure you recycle paper correctly.

Paper that comes out of your printer, bills, note book paper all of that is recyclable. Something I found really interesting is that crumpled pamper is less likely to be recycled, but have no fear. If the paper is crumpled, torn in half, or folded it is still recyclable!

While crumpled and slightly altered paper is recyclable, shredded paper is not. The paper fibers have been shortened too much and the small shreds can jam machinery and contaminate bales of other materials. Shredded paper is a great packing material especially for fragile items. Beyond that, it’s fabulous for compost especially worm bins!

Check out more about paper recycling on https://www.treehugger.com/the-benefits-of-paper-recycling-1204139

Newspaper Recycling

Newspaper is easily recycled through many curbside recycling programs and can be made into new newsprint and other materials. Find a location to recycle newspaper in your area using the recycling search tool at the end of this article ...

Cardboard Recycling

Cardboard is a high quality recyclable material made of paper. Most common forms are corrugated cardboard and grey paperboard, which is used for paper boxes and packaging material. Most cardboard can be recycled, such as boxes, plates, tubes, fiberboard, and paperboard.