Recycle (news)paper.
“Environmental pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be prevented.”
-Barry Commoner
Hey, guys!
This week’s challenge is pretty straightforward. By now you’ve already heard a lot about recycling, however, we haven’t stressed out the importance of recycling paper in particular. We want you to do the best you can to use this week to make paper recycling a habit.
At first, recycling can be a bit overwhelming. Think where to put which type of trash can be frustrating at the beginning. Not to mention that dealing with trash and putting additional thoughts into it is the last thing most people want to do. However, this is something we simply have to do. OK? So, if you are not recycling your trash yet, you should start right away. And we promise, once you get used to it gets very easy.
How to recycle (news)paper?
Like with other types of trash, it is super important to have a place at home where you pile up the paper you use. The best and probably the easiest way to get your trash in order is by purchasing recycle bins. In case you don’t want to spend money on bins you can always use a cardboard box and pile your paper in it.
Once your bin or cardboard is filled with paper, newspapers, or magazines just empty it into the nearest paper recycling trash can or drop the paper you’ve piled up at the nearest recycling center. To find one of those just type “Recycling center near me” into google search engine and it will show you your options.
In some cities, you can even arrange a pick up with the recycling companies. In others, there are specified days of the week when they will pick up the paper (the so-called community curbside). In that case, you just have to leave it outside in the evening.
Why should you recycle paper?
To save the environment, of course. We thought the best way to elaborate on that will be to give provide you with some facts regarding paper recycling. Those ought to help you see the bigger picture.
Fact about recycling paper
- If all newspaper in the US alone was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year.
- 85,000,000 tons of paper are used by Americans each year.
- One ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees.
- One ton of recycled paper can save 7000 gallons of water.
- Just to produce each week’s Sunday newspaper, 500,000 trees must be cut down.
- Just by getting every American to recycle only one-tenth of their newspapers, we could save about 25,000,000 trees per year.
- To produce recycle paper instead of making it from trees we use 50 % less energy.
Do we need newspapers?
As you can see, there is a lot we can do for the environment just by recycling paper. You can also see that a great deal can be done just by recycling newspapers. So here is a thought – do we really need newspapers? We all have smartphones, laptops, tablets; couldn’t we just read the news in a digital form. Just something to think about.
If we were to stop buying newspapers, they’d sure stop producing it and we’d save a hell lot of trees.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead
Take-home points:
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Recycle paper to save the environment.
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Use recycle bins to make it easier to recycle.
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Consider not buying newspapers anymore.
Have a lovely, earth caring week.
Love,
Good Earthlings