Is Recycling Really Better For The Environment? Part 1: Paper
Posted on Dec 13, 2007 - 06:39 PM
By: Adam Beazley
This is the first part of our "Is Recycling Really Better For The Environment" series and today we are going to talk about recycling paper and answer the question of weather or not recycling paper is better for the environment or not. With that said, et me first start by saying YES, YES and Absolutely YES! I am not sure where people are getting these ideas that recycling is worse for the environment, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Now, of course I can't just make that claim without presenting some sort of evidence to back up my claim, so let me just say that this next blog post is going to be a pretty long. In fact, I will be splitting this post into several different sections each dealing with a different material.
Part 1: Recycling Paper Is Better For The Environment!
When talking about recycling any type of material, a key term that will always show that recycling is better is Source Reduction. Source reduction is a direct result of recycling and affect the entire life cycle of the product. As it relates to paper, when you reduce the use of new paper, you are also reducing the negative environmental effects of producing that new paper.
When a forest is cut down to produce paper, not only is pollution produced form the use of diesel machinery, but when the wood is turned into pulp, it releases all of the CO2 that it has spent its entire life storing. Although trees are considered carbon neutral because they are only releasing the carbon that they have absorbed, the CO2 released from the erosion of the top soil is not carbon neutral because that topsoil loss would not have happened otherwise.
Now, lets first take a look at new paper production vs. recycled paper production using simple logic before we get into numbers and empirical data.
As you can see, recycled paper has a much more environmentally friendly life cycle than new virgin paper. Now lets take a look at some actual CO2 numbers:
| Type Of Paper | CO2 per lb. |
| Virgin paper 0% post-consumer recycled | 7.14 |
| 33% post-consumer recycled | 6.06 |
| 50% post-consumer recycled | 5.50 |
| 66% post-consumer recycled | 5.20 |
| 100% post-consumer recycled | 3.90 |
The figures above have been taken from an extensive study done by the Environmental Defense, on paper production and publishing. If you wish to read the entire report please follow this link to the Paper Task Force Report at the Environmental Defense website.
As you can see 100% recycled paper is almost twice as efficient as virgin paper and releases almost half of the CO2 emissions as well. Now this is not even taking into consideration the loss of forests due to clear cutting and all of the environmental effects which happen as a result.
So, whats the moral of this story? Recycle, Recycle, Recycle... Its not hard, just put a recycle bin next your trash can and throw recyclables in that bin instead of the trash bin.
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Show/Hide Comments (36)
By Haris on 02/21/2008
As George Carlin said the Planet will be fine long after we’re gone..in the meantime just join an online community or a cause u believe in and enjoy the ride.
By Jeremy on 05/06/2008
Once again there is more than meets the eye! Thanks for the educational table of data.
By Jim Bisnett on 05/15/2008
Thanks for the information. The CO2 table is a real eye opener.
By Toronto Condos on 05/17/2008
Hell yea it is. With recycling there are less trees cut for new paper.
By friendly to the environment on 05/18/2008
Reduce Paper Consumption by buying efficient material This can save you money while you’re helping the environment.
By CasCad on 05/29/2008
Thanks!very useful information for me!
By Misty S Hoover on 05/31/2008
Thanks for the info. BTW I’ve marked it @ http://www.searchallinone.com/Other/-41179/
By Toronto Condos on 11/11/2008
We should recycle as much as we can to re-use usable materials instead of producing more and more of it. Americans or people in general are so wasteful that our Earth is really taking a toll because of our neglect. Only now when global warming is in full effect people or starting to recycle and care more about the environment. Sadly, I think it is too late. BUT, that doesn’t mean we can give up hope and try to save Mother EArth. PEople don’t recycle because they are 1) lazy 2) feel they, being one person, won’t make a big difference and 3) they don’t care, making $$$ is more important than the welfare of nature.
By free footy on 12/15/2008
this is really awesome article.. The point which you have fetch out “100% recycled paper is almost twice as efficient as virgin paper and releases almost half of the CO2 emissions as well.” is really excellent imagination..thanks a lot for sharing..
regards,
stanford
By zeolite on 12/18/2008
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for “conventional” waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy.
By IP Address on 12/22/2008
When a forest is cut down to produce paper, not only is pollution produced form the use of diesel machinery, but when the wood is turned into pulp, it releases all of the CO2 that it has spent its entire life storing.
By kitchen on 01/09/2009
Great article, as usual. Still, some of these links did provide me with something new to work with!
By Gucci Clothes on 01/16/2009
I agree with you. Paper bags, which many people consider a better alternative to plastic bags, carry their own set of environmental problems. For example, according to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999 the U.S. alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags, which adds up to a lot of trees.
By Web Design Leicester on 01/24/2009
In the mid-19th century, there was an increased demand for books and writing material. Up to this time, paper manufacturers had used discarded linen rags for paper, but supply could not keep up with the increased demand. Books were bought at auctions for the purpose of recycling fiber content into new paper, at least in the United Kingdom, by the beginning of the 19th century.
By Invisible Fence ® replacement batteries on 01/29/2009
Despite these clear benefits of paper recycling it has been criticised both as a product and as a process. It has been suggested that producing recycled paper uses more energy than virgin paper production, is more polluting and may make a greater contribution to climate change. Such arguments have been used to promote the view that it is preferable to incinerate paper to produce energy rather than to recycle it.
By Adam Beazley on 01/29/2009
You obviously didn’t read the article or watch the movie.
By Rockaway, NJ Mercedes Benz Repairs on 02/05/2009
In the beginning paper mills used a lot of harsh chemicals…mainly chlorine, to clean the papers. But over the last 10 years they have found ways to clean the paper in a more environmentally safe way. Remember, there are many people out there that watch besides the government. If it truly was bad to recycle then large groups would be saying it.
By Birch Tire and Auto Service on 02/09/2009
I think minimizing the use of paper, and by reducing wastage will be more beneficial, recycling is also a costly process.
By CD Annuity on 03/03/2009
The big question about recycling is really a series of separate, somewhat related questions,How Can a Hummer Be Better for the Environment than a Prius?
By w">thompson on 03/04/2009
Thanks for your information
nice post
By Innovative Directory Submission SEO service hits t on 03/11/2009
I think better initiative is to make biodegrable products or products which have a longer lifetime.
When its biodegradable it will go back to its natural state.
Longer lifetime= more usable= less waste = More ecofriendly.
Recycling is also a time and energy consuming process !
By {name_of_commenter} on 03/16/2009
Great article. I think your point was proven well, here.
By London ON Houses on 05/06/2009
Excellent post! I agree—recycling is important and I think that people should make a conscience effort to increase the amount recycled, and reduce the amount of waste.
By Dental on 07/08/2009
I believe recycle is always good, I am currently using recyled used like papers, bags, boxes etc.
By taislim on 07/11/2009
I’m into recycling. Just think how many trees you will save from being cut down if you recycle paper. It will really help the environment and I think it’s time we all give back something to Mother Earth. People are abusing the environment, its time people begins to start to care by recycling.
By Internet Project Management on 07/19/2009
It makes so much sense to me, I don’t know how people can just throw out recyclables and not care! When I’m out, I will carry around a plastic bottle or pop can until I find a recycling bin, rather than just dump it into the closest garbage.
By Southampton dental implants on 08/11/2009
This is pure recycling at its best! I truly admire people who advocates for the betterment of the environment. The internet is now a very powerful tool so this article is very effective for me in relaying the message.
By Abbott on 02/10/2010
These look great.I am sure that your great job is clearly identified. I was wondering if you offer any subscription to your RSS feeds as I would be very interested and can’t find any link to subscribe here I hope it is still at nine bucks
By Teresa@loantmodification on 05/19/2010
Now a days people are more aware of this and go for more eco-friendly stuff, then we might be able to save something for the future generation.
By dental implant dentist on 06/06/2010
Paper Consumption by buying efficient material This can save you money while you’re helping the environment.
By louis vuitton on 08/25/2010
I will carry around a plastic bottle or pop can until I find a recycling bin, rather than just dump it into the closest garbage.
By Enugu on 09/02/2010
You’re lucky. We have no garbage separation at all. All we can do is consume less unnecessary things.
By Dental Surgeon PA on 02/22/2011
Recycling is really important. Not only that it can conserve our natural resources it can also help our place free from garbage. In such a way, it can also help us to live easier.
By Sell Mercedes on 03/14/2011
I think it’s really a narrow view to think it’s okay in our lifetime, we should have enough sense to realize it’s our children that will have to pickup the pieces.
By vancouver dental implants on 05/12/2011
I could not actually relate to this post since I am a dentist. But what caught my attention is that I love to recycle all of my newspapers at home. Thank you for sharing this
By shredding San Antonio on 01/10/2012
There are many ways to protect the environment and one of the most basic ones is recycling paper. When paper usage is minimized, cutting down of trees will be lessened. This is the reason why there are many organizations that launches a ‘paperless drive’ in their offices in order to help in the protection of our natural resources. Everyone should support activities that are similar to it.
