Four Advantages of Recycling Paper Products

Even in our tech-driven world, people consume obscene quantities of paper. The EPA calculates that Americans use 70 million tons of paper every year in the US alone. Yet, about 70% of paper waste is reclaimed in our nation. Saving landfill area, water, and power are just some of the benefits of recycling paper. In addition, recycling paper helps reduce greenhouse gases and produces a cost-saving and sustainable fiber for creating new paper creations. Experts on certified document shredding in Orlando present these benefits of paper recycling:

Conserves natural resources

You can conserve forests and trees via the strategy of recycling paper. Seventeen trees are left standing per ton of recycled paper. Paper recycling is an eco-friendly practice for paper plants that save energy and costs. It is critical to mention that you cannot reclaim paper forever. You can only recycle it up to seven times before the fibers are too short for recycling. Short fiber materials can be ignited for energy, composted, or employed as landfilling material.

Reduces the discharge of greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are reduced via the recycling process. Methane gas is discharged into the atmosphere when paper decays naturally in a landfill. Global climate change is impacted by methane and carbon dioxide emissions. Cutting down trees to create paper permits more carbon dioxide to be radiated into the environment because live trees absorb carbon dioxide. Additionally, carbon dioxide is emitted when the wood is processed to make paper. According to the EPA, recycling paper significantly decreases the discharge of greenhouse gases into the air.

Conserves water and energy

Less water and energy are depleted to recycle paper than produce paper from plants and trees. Amazingly, one ton of paper recycling saves energy equivalent to the amount required to power the average American residence for half the year and saves nearly 7,000 gallons of water. In addition, creating new paper from recycled paper helps preserve water and energy because the portion of energy-intensive procedures and measures that utilize water is significantly reduced.

Preserves landfill space

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly thirty percent of the solid trash found in landfills is paper. In addition, it uses around 3.3 cubic yards of space in a landfill to hold a ton of paper. You save space in landfills for other debris you can't recycle by recycling all your cardboard and paper products to help decrease the need for creating more dumps. The construction of new landfills in communities often brings resistance from the neighborhoods they are suggested in.

The advantages of paper recycling are apparent. Contact us today for more details on our recycling and certified document shredding, and do your part to make the planet better for ages to come. We are here to support your efforts in making the world a better place. Help us help you!