How Does Recycling Paper Help The Environment?

We all know how important it is to do our bit for the environment, but it can be sometimes tricky to identify the best measures that we can take, especially in business. When you consider that in the UK we go through around 12.5 million tonnes of paper each year, but only 67% of it is recycled, then it is clear that there is a simple change we are all capable of making.

In this article, Rads Document Storage looks at the benefits of recycling paper and the ways in which it can help the environment.

What is paper recycling?

Paper is a valuable material in both domestic and business settings. We all use plenty of it, but it is important to remember that it can not only be reused but also recycled and manufactured into whole new items.

This happens when different types of paper are turned into a pulp, which is filtered several times to remove glue, plastic, ink and staples.

Once the pulp is clean, it can then be made into a new paper product, sometimes with the help of some virgin wood fibres to give it some added strength.

The pulp is mixed with chemicals and warm water before being fed through a paper making device where the water can be drained out and the fibres are bonded together.

Energy savings

One of the biggest benefits of recycling paper is the amount of energy that it can help to save. It is estimated that 70% less energy and water are required to recycle paper than to create new paper products from trees which represents a massive saving.

As significant amounts of electricity still come from non-renewable sources, this means the environment can benefit in several different ways through a more energy efficient recycling process.

Saving the trees

Trees are incredibly important to our planet as they play a large role in absorbing carbon dioxide and creating fresh new oxygen for our atmosphere. That is why it is so important that we do all we can to save as many trees as possible, and recycling plays a part in this.

Statistics suggest that recycling just a single ton of paper can save as many as 17 trees and up to 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. By recycling as much paper as possible, we can leave whole forests still standing.

Paper pollution

When it comes to paper recycling, it is easy to think that it is the paper product themselves that are important. However, there are also significant types of very harmful pollution that are associated with the manufacturing of paper products.

This is because the paper mills use toxic chemicals that make them amongst the worst manufacturing polluters in the world. The paper that is left to decompose in the ground is capable of releasing methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas and one of the main contributors to the climate change issue.

By recycling paper, we can avoid the use of these paper mills as much as possible, which means we could reduce air pollution by as much as 74%.

As a business, when you recycle paper, you are not only doing your bit for the environment, but you are also being financially smart.

This is because recycling programmes can reduce waste disposal costs and create additional revenue streams. Those with high recycling rates can then benefit from savings in waste management expenses and even qualify for certain incentives.

This means that by taking paper recycling seriously, you can play your part in creating a more sustainable planet, as well as the bottom line of your business.