Recycling Series: Paper!
by Jac
Last week we talked about plastic, so this week we are making the obvious switch...to paper. Paper has a high recyclability rate, but its important to keep that number going up. Remember paper comes from trees - and we need those too! This week you can learn more about paper recycling and take action to increase its recyclability.
Together we can learn, do, and participate in everyday environmental actions that make our community more healthy, more beautiful, and more environmentally friendly for all.
Remember when it seemed we might someday live in a "paperless world?" Paper isn't going away any time soon. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), paper makes up almost 25% of the total waste we discard - the most of any category. Yes, even more than plastic which was about 12% (2018 figures). The good news is that paper has the highest recyclability rate - almost 70%! But there's still a LOT of paper going to our landfills, and the rate of recycled vs landfilled paper hasn't changed much over the last decade.
What types of paper can I recycle?
Glen Ellyn takes all types of mixed paper for recycling. This includes:
Cardboard - which includes shipping boxes, paperboard (used for cereal boxes) or chipboard (shoeboxes).
Office paper - white paper from work, school, letters, etc
Glossy paper - magazines and catalogs
Newspaper - newspaper is already made from recycled paper
Make sure it is clean and dry.
What types of paper can I NOT recycle?
Tissues, paper towels, napkins, toilet paper are NOT recyclable! First of all, these items are generally already made from recycled paper. Every time paper is recycled, the fibers get shorter - paper can only be recycled about 4-6 times before its useful life ends. Second, these items are generally dirty. Soiled paper is no good because it contaminates other paper in the recycling process (keep reading for more about that). Throw these away.
Receipts are not recyclable because they are generally printed on a thermal paper. Plus, they are small. Remember we want to get the big things right!
Shredded paper is not recyclable because it's too small to recycle curbside. It blows around everywhere and creates waste. To properly discard of shredded paper, find a local shredding event.
What about the rest?
Paper cartons like milk cartons, juice boxes, soup cartons ARE recyclable in Glen Ellyn! This is not true for all communities so remember to check where you live. Discard any plastic lids or straws before recycling.
But other "multi-layer" paper products like wax, plastic and foil coated paper cartons are not recyclable. If you're not sure, feel it - if it feels slippery, it's probably coated and should be tossed.
The #1 paper recycling question - What about pizza boxes?!
For this one, it helps to understand how paper is recycled. It's shredded into pulp, mixed up with water until it becomes a paper slushy, and pressed through a screen to remove adhesives and contaminants. You know what happens when you mix oil and water, right? It makes the water greasy.
You CAN recycle pizza boxes and paper plates, but make sure they are not soaked through with with grease/food. You can always rip off the top to recycle on its own. If you aren't sure if your box can be recycled, you should throw it out.
DO!
Even though paper is easily recycled, we still want to REDUCE and REUSE paper as much as possible. Remember, paper can only be recycled 4-6 times, and every time we make new paper, we cut down trees. Recycling and making paper requires a lot of water, and paper mills also emit a lot of air and water pollutants (if you have ever driven past a paper mill, you will notice the smell). So consider taking these steps to change up your paper use:
REDUCE the amount of paper you acquire. Cancel those random catalogs that show up. Bring a reusable bag instead of getting a paper bag.
REUSE paper that you do have. Write on the back, print double sided on recycled paper
RECYCLE try to remove paper and binder clips, but you can recycle papers with staples, tape, stickers, and envelopes with windows
