When we think about recycling, waste paper recycling is perhaps one of the first areas that springs to mind as many of us have been doing this for a number of years. In fact, paper was first recycled in the nineteenth century before it was even made from wood pulp! Most domestic waste paper recycling nowadays is done through kerbside collection although paper bins also exist and businesses can take advantage of paper collection services.
But why can we not put paper in landfill when it is a biodegradable material? Well there are perhaps three main reasons for waste paper recycling. Firstly, paper put into landfill sites does indeed biodegrade but this produces methane gas in the process. As a greenhouse gas this is something we need to avoid as much as possible in order to reduce global warming. Secondly, waste paper recycling reduces the requirement for virgin paper, the raw materials for which are usually imported. As well as depleting stocks of trees, therefore, further damage is inflicted on the environment due to the transportation involved. And, thirdly, waste paper recycling actually uses less energy than making virgin paper.
Waste paper recycling covers a wide variety of different types of paper. You can recycle newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, office paper, holiday brochures, catalogues and white directories (e.g. phone books). In addition Yellow Pages can be recycled although this is often collected separately to other paper.
For further information on waste paper recycling visit www.recycle-more.co.uk or www.recyclenow.com
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