Why Recycle Paper
It’s easy to assume that a small amount of material recycled in an office, home, or school makes little difference. But reproducing these efforts throughout a country leads to major improvements in the environment.
The Importance of recycling paper
Paper recycling is vital for sustainability. As waste management becomes an increasingly prominent issue, businesses, families, communities, and schools all need to make recycling part and parcel of their lives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
The benefits of recycling paper
Although few people routinely recycle due to the effort involved and not knowing how to recycle, paper recycling benefits society in a variety of ways.
Reduces greenhouse gases
Currently, thousands of tonnes of good quality, recyclable paper are going to landfills every year. This paper degrades along with other food waste, adding to levels of greenhouse gases in the air we breathe. By recycling paper, the carbon (originally stored by trees in the wood fibre) remains ‘locked up’ – and out of the atmosphere – for longer.
Reduces waste sent to landfills
The collection, sorting, and processing of recyclables play a vital role in formal and informal job creation. An informal collector could start the day without a cent in his pocket and by the end of the day have enough money for an evening meal for his family.
Recycling paper creates jobs
The collection, sorting, and processing of recyclables play a vital role in formal and informal job creation. An informal collector could start the day without a cent in his pocket and by the end of the day have enough money for an evening meal for his family.
Things to think about
Does recycling save trees? Is recycled paper better for the environment than virgin paper?
No, recycling does not save trees. This is because the trees are specially farmed for the purpose of papermaking.. For the manufacture of paper and timber products, trees are sustainably planted, grown and harvested in cycles – making paper a renewable resource. In South Africa, indigenous trees from natural forests are never used for papermaking.
What about using recycled paper?
We should not buy into the guilt, fear and greenwashing that we are ‘killing trees’ by using virgin paper. When using recycled paper, always consider the source. Imported recycled paper may have a higher carbon footprint than you think. By using locally produced and certified virgin paper for printing, communication and crafts we can be assured that is comes from sustainably managed sources. As paper fibres can only be recycled six to seven times, new wood will be always needed to keep the paper cycle going.