Recycling Paper: Can One Individual Really Make a Difference?

In honor of Arbor Day coming up on April 27th, I started thinking about how many trees are destroyed each year in order to make our paper products. I am the first to admit that I am guilty of wasting tons of paper products, thus perpetuating the need for the destruction of more trees. So perhaps today is the day to start thinking about recycling paper products.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), there are several benefits for recycling paper products:

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change by avoiding methane emissions and reducing energy required for a number of paper products. Extends the fiber supply and contributes to carbon sequestration.
• Saves considerable landfill space.
• Reduces energy and water consumption.
• Decreases the need for disposal (i.e., landfill or incineration which decreases the amount of CO2 produced).
  (Source: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/paper/basics/index.htm )

Not only is recycling paper good for our environment, it saves money. Who doesn’t need more money, right?

Ideally you should recycle plastic, aluminum, glass, and paper, but since I am one of those people whom has not been doing much recycling, I figure I will start by learning all about ways to recycle or waste less paper. Hey, at least it’s a start, right?