How to Go Green & Recycle Paper
Paper is one of the easiest things to recycle and the most abundant item in U.S. refuse--approximately 37 percent of all municipal rubbish is paper and paperboard, according to University of Illinois Extension. You may already be recycling your daily newspaper by leaving it out on the curb once a week. Look around and notice how many other paper items you simply throw in the trash that could be also recycled. Today, it seems we live with an overabundance of consumer packaging. Put out all that paper packaging for pickup with your newspapers as well to go green.
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Instructions
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Flatten paper packaging. Food boxes, printer ink cartons, cardboard cartons, toilet paper rolls and last years calendars are just a few paper items that can be included in the weekly paper recycling pickup. Open both ends of cartons and flatten them.
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Tie bundles of paper products with string. Tie them first one way across the bundle and then the other way to make a cross tie. Make a double knot on the string to make sure it holds the bundle together. Double check to make sure nothing will fall out of the bundle. Repeat this process for as many bundles as you have for the week.
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Place the bundles out at the curb for pickup. If the paper is lightweight use a brick to weigh it down.
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Find a paper recycling center in your location and take the paper there if there is no paper pickup in your area.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to remove any rubber bands, plastic bags or wrapping from the papers before recycling as these contaminate the recycling process, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
If you have a lot of paper to be recycled you may put it in a carton as long as it is made of a paper product. Do not use tape or rubber bands to hold the box shut, use string instead.
Waxed paper or paper soiled with food or oil are not recyclable.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit recycling image by dbvirago from Fotolia.com
