Below are some of the environmental and money saving benefits of recycling paper…
Saves Trees – The most obvious reason to recycle paper is for saving trees which provide vital oxygen for the planet. Just 1 ton of recycled paper saves at least 16 of them.
Wildlife Preservation – Recycling paper helps protect the habitats of beautiful birds, insects and a wide variety of wildlife that lives in those trees.
Cheaper Paper – Recycled paper is often cheap to purchase. Buying cheaper, recycled goods encourages more recycled goods to be manufactured, sustaining the recycling industry.
Less Water Consumption – To make ‘new’ paper requires vast amounts of water, whereas the process of recycling paper uses up much less of this important resource.
Saves Electricity – Over 400 kilowatt hours of energy are saved by recycling paper instead of making a fresh 1 ton batch, and that could be used in heating and lighting homes instead.
Reduces Oil Dependence – Oil production has some horrific effects on the environment and any chance to reduce oil consumption should be taken. Saving 2 barrels per ton of recycled paper really makes a difference in the long term.
Less Pollution – Burning paper in waste incinerators pumps masses of pollution into the air. That means that we are unnecessarily causing the air that we all breathe to be of a lower quality.
Creates Jobs – Think about all the people who work within the paper recycling industry. Collectors, sorters and machine operators being just a few of them. The more that we recycle, the more of these jobs there will be created.
Sets A Precedent – Paper is probably the easiest thing to recycle, so it is a good starting point for those who do not currently recycle at all. Having gotten into the habit of recycling paper, and seeing that it really is not difficult, people are more likely to start recycling other items too.