A few numbers around the globe:
The average office worker in the US uses 10,000 sheets of paper per year.
Hong Kong offices consume 190 million sheets of paper a week (e). If stacked, the pile would be equivalent of 51 times the height International Finance Centre.
With all the paper wasted each year in the US, a 12-foot high wall from Los Angeles to New York City.
The paper recycling rate is around 66% in New York City (a)
Life Cycle of Paper
During the recycling process, the paper is separated into different types and is then washed to remove any film, glue, ink and other contaminants.
Once clean, it is then mixed with water to create a pulp. This pulp is then pressed, dried and rolled into large thin sheets. These rolls are then cut and used as recycled paper for newspaper, books and other paper goods.
Did you know? Paper can be recycled 5 to 7 times (d).
As the fibers in paper are shortened, its ability to be recycled is reduced.
Your impact in this context!
Now you know, recycling saves energy, resources and water.
Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees (c), and it takes 40% less energy and 50% less water to recycle paper than to create new paper from trees. (b)
So don’t forget to recycle all your paper!
Paper you can recycle
Please check your local rules to know what kind of paper you can recycle in Boston, New York or Hong Kong.
Tip!
Remember that paper cups and paper towels can’t be recycled in the paper recycling bin!
How to best recycle paper
Avoid tearing or crushing paper
Remove plastic covers
Remove plastic coated pages
Remove plastic tape, staples and glue
Remove ring binders and other non-paper materials
Remove adhesive flaps and plastic windows from envelopes
Keep the paper clean and dry
Recycle your paper to save trees!
References:
(a)https://www.afandpa.org/news/2021/new-york-times-misses-point-paper-recycling#:~:text=Whatever%20is%20true%20of%20plastic,was%20a%20whopping%2089%20percent.
(b)https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/energy-and-the-environment/recycling-and-energy.php#:~:text=Recycling%20saves%20energy%20in%20the%20production%20of%20new%20products&text=For%20every%20one%20ton%20of,and%20uses%2050%25%20less%20water.
(c)https://www.shredit.co.uk/en-gb/blog/sustainability/how-does-recycling-paper-help-the-environment
(d)https://www.iamrenew.com/knowledge-hub-sustainability/recycle-conundrum-how-many-times-can-recyclables-be-recycled/
(e)https://www.ejinsight.com/eji/article/id/2191725/20190715-hk-offices-consume-190-million-sheets-of-paper-a-week-survey
