We’ve Come a Long Way in Paper Recycling
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) recently released an update on paper and cardboard recycling and the facts are impressive. Did you know:
89% of corrugated containers are recycled.
68% of newspapers are recycled.
Recycling one ton of paper saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and 7000 gallons of water.
The use of recycled materials saves 68% of the energy used when making paper from virgin materials.
Last year, the US recycled 315 pounds of paper, from commercial and residential sources,
for each person in the country.
Energy saved using recycled materials versus virgin materials is up to 68%.
Recycled paper was a $7.5 billion industry
in the US in 2013.
What happens to the paper you recycle?
First, it is collected by an industrial recycler like Power Recycling and sorted into grades of fiber. It is then shipped to a paper mill. Over 70% of the US paper mills process recycled paper and recycled paper accounts for 36% of our fiber supply.
Water is added to break apart the fibers. Contaminants like ink and glue are then removed. The fiber is processed into pulp and dried in high-speed rollers, where a new sheet of fiber is created. This fiber could become tissue, newsprint or a corrugated box.
Economic Benefits
Recycled paper from the U.S. was exported to more than 85 countries and, in 2013, was valued at over $3.2 billion.
Industrial recycling of paper is a financial asset to our economy while creating jobs and helping the planet.
Environmental Benefits
Processing one ton of paper saves:
- 17 trees
- 79 gallons of oil
- 7,000 gallons of water
- 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space
All of this translates into a 68% saving in energy over processing virgin material.
Give us a call if you would like to learn more about how you could actually earn money from your paper and cardboard recycling.
