Paper - Number One

Paper is still the number one material in the solid waste stream. We use a lot of paper everyday--packaging, posters, handouts, flyers, hardcopies of emails. For every 100 pounds of garbage we throw away, 35 pounds is paper. Newspaper takes up about 14 percent of landfill space, and paper in packaging accounts for another 20 percent.

The good news is that paper is recyclable. All paper can be recycled, but some kinds are harder to recycle than others.

Recycling paper saves energy and natural resources. A ton of paper made from recycled content fibers instead of virgin fibers conserves 7000 gallons of water, 17 to 31 trees, 400 KWh of electricity, and 60 pounds of air pollutants.

Paper cannot be recycled over and over again. Eventually the fibers become too weak and short to be used again. Virgin paper fiber is usually mixed with recycled paper when new products are made. Most cardboard boxes are a mixture of 50% new and 50% recycled fibers.