19 May EcoTip #6 All the Reasons in the World to Save and Recycle Paper

The pulp and paper industry is among the world’s largest generators of air and water pollutants, waste products and the gases that cause climate change. It is also one of the largest users of raw materials, including fresh water, energy and forest fibers.

Recycling paper reduces the amount of resources used and pollution caused by paper production. Each ton of recycled paper saves more than three cubic yards of landfill space; 7,000 gallons of water; 17 trees; and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Recycling is just one way to save paper. Here are some ideas for using less paper:

• Copy on both sides of the page
• Reduce documents to fit two pages onto one
• Cancel newspapers, newsletters and magazines you don’t read or can access online, and take your name off mailing lists to reduce junk mail
• Make recycling easy by  placing recycling bins in high traffic areas, including in the office near copier and fax machines, and in the kitchen

Save energy by using paper made from a high percentage of post-consumer waste – that’s paper that is thrown away or recycled. It takes 60 percent less energy to manufacture paper from recycled stock than from trees or other raw materials.

For a better understanding of the environmental impact of paper use and waste, check out “Secret Life of Paper” on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU8WY8va5h8.