Paper is bio-degradable. It will not pollute the environment like plastic if dumped in landfills, so why is it important to recycle paper? Why can’t we just use paper once and keep manufacturing new ones?
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Why Is It Important to Recycle Paper?
Recycling paper benefits the environment in many diverse ways. Here are some of the most important reasons why we must recycle and re-use paper.
1. Recycling paper saves trees.
All of Earth’sEarth’s resources are limited. Our supply of paper is limited because trees are limited too. The more trees we cut down for paper production, the more forest cover we lose.
A loss of greenery in the world leads to many issues like increased greenhouse gases and global warming. The less paper you use up, the more you recycle paper, and the more trees you save.
Trees are vital for our well-being. Trees are the primary agents that determine our air quality, stable climate and health. Trees are what maintain the delicate ecosystem of the EarthEarth that supports life. Without trees, planet Earth is dead.
2. Recycling paper saves energy.
It takes about 70% more energy to manufacture paper from wood than it takes to recycle paper. So recycling paper conserves energy. Conserving energy helps preserve the limited raw materials used for energy production, like petroleum, and it also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.
3. Recycling paper saves money.
Yes. Not only is recycling good for the environment, but it also saves money for you. Recycled paper costs less. It uses up less energy and is cost-efficient to produce, so you are able to use paper at reduced prices. When people spend less money on paper, they have more money to spend on other essentials like food. So recycling does lead to a better way of life.
When you collect used paper and cardboard and submit them to paper recycling centers, you will also be paid a small amount according to their weight. Some centers will not pay money, but most do. Find a recycling center that pays you for the paper you collect for them, and you can earn. The money may seem small and insignificant, but when recycling becomes a habit, the amount you save per year adds up.
4. Recycling paper is less pollution.
When you recycle paper, less paper and cardboard end up in landfills. Used paper does not pose so much of a pollution problem because they are bio-degradable, but they do fill up landfills a lot. Landfills cause toxic pollution to the environment. Chemicals and hazardous waste that seep from landfills contaminate our food and water. Landfills are hazardous to our health. So recycling not only reduces landfills that are an eyesore to the environment, it also preserves our health.
5. Recycling paper saves water.
Water is used up in the production of paper. When we recycle paper instead of producing them from scratch, we use up 80% less water. Recycling paper helps save fresh water.
Another way recycling paper saves water is by preserving trees. Trees and forest cover are one of the most important ways the EarthEarth retains water before it reaches the sea. When trees are cut, there are fewer roots to absorb water and rainfall gets washed into the sea.
Why is it Important to Recycle paper? Recycle for a Better Future!
It is important to recycle paper for countless reasons. But the most important reason is that it saves trees. Trees are not an infinite resource. True, we can keep growing more trees, but if we cut down trees faster than we grow them, we will lose our forest cover fast. Trees are crucial in maintaining the stability of our ecosystem. Without trees, we have no life, no water, and eventually, it will lead to the extinction of human beings.
You might think that paper recycling is a small insignificant step on the road to Earth conservation. But no step is too small. The best possible step is to reduce and reuse whatever we can. The next step is to recycle and practice healthy waste management. We can’t change the world overnight, but we sure can change ourselves and our household practices.
Here is a more detailed article about the benefits of recycling if you wish to learn more!
So don’t throw away paper! Recycle paper and save trees!
Also read: What are 5 benefits of recycling?
*All pics are taken from Unsplash.com
