 EnviroCitizen.org has found that reusing paper saves virgin trees from being harvested, water and energy from being used and greenhouse gases from being emitted in the production of new paper products. It will also save you money in the long run.
Reusing paper is a low-tech way to reduce the amount of paper products used in your home, on the job and elsewhere. At least 90% of the paper used in the US comes from virgin tree fiber. By reusing paper, you reduce the amount of new paper consumed, which prevents the clear-cutting of forests. This lessens the use of water, energy and other chemicals required in paper production, too. It also reduces the amount of global warming gases added to the atmosphere.
Stock up on everything that is made of paper that can be reused, from tissue paper to the tubes from paper towels. One of the things you may want to consider doing is shredding it. If you shred it and cut it up, you can use it to protect the contents of your packages instead of Styrofoam or bubble wrap. You can also shred the paper and use it as basket filler for any gifts. Shredded paper makes great liner for animal cages and can even be used as cat litter if shredded very well. There are other things besides paper rolls that can be reused. Do some research to find more creative and resourceful ideas on how you can reuse paper.
If you have some things that would not be good to reuse such as used tissues, put them in the recycling instead of the trash. Most types of paper can be recycled, and recycling technology has been refined in recent years so that mixed paper and staples do not present as much of a challenge. Every recycling facility has different guidelines for how to recycle paper products, so EnviroCitizen.org suggests that consumers should investigate how paper must be prepared, sorted and turned in to be sure they can contribute to the recycling effort effectively.
EnviroCitizen.org definitely feels it is important to reduce our paper consumption overall, but it is also equally as important to reuse and recycle whatever paper we do consume. Used paper has so many great uses around your home and office. Teach your children to use paper sparingly and to either reuse it or recycle it once done. Savings trees by reusing paper is something that will benefit the Earth for generations to come.
|
