Recycle Paper & Save a Tree
Recycle Paper and save a tree. Or part of one, anyway.
The E.P.A. estimates that the average American uses a 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year.
If we recycle paper, part of our fir tree may one day become:
Bandages
Hospital gowns
Coffee filters
Lamp shades
Animal bedding
Planting pots for seedlings
Egg cartons
How to Recycle Paper:
- Check your county's recycling center or Earth 911 for information in your area. Many programs provide curbside pickup and free recycling bins. Also check local rules for separation of paper products.
- If you haven't received one from your local recycling program, find a container. Milk crates or storage tubs work well. Designate it for paper only.
- The following items are accepted in many curbside programs. Staples and paper clips usually don't need to be removed.
Cardboard
From the heavy duty box that protected your new flat screen, to the smaller cereal box on your morning table, you can recycle cardboard of all types.
Computer Paper
The E.P.A estimates than the average worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year.
Envelopes
Recycle plain white envelopes and those with plastic windows. Mustard colored envelopes and those with bubble wrap usually can't be recycled. Reuse these when possible.
File Folders
Even flexible folders with metal tabs can be recycled. Remove the metal rods and add those to a scrap metal pile.
Holiday Cards
They can be tossed in the recycling bin with other paper, or sent to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. The kids take old holiday cards, cut them up and create new cards.
Magazines
Many curbside programs accept magazines. Local nursing homes or shelters may accept them for residents.
Newspapers
If reading the news online isn't for you, recycle dated newspapers.
Junk Mail
Junk mail may contain your personal information. You can run it through a shreader before adding to the recycle bin.
Notebooks
There's no need to remove the spiral to recycle notebooks. Most centers remove them during processing.
Pizza Boxes
Some curbside programs accept these. Tear of areas with food residue.
Post-it's
They can usually be recycled with regular paper.
Tissue Boxes
Even with the plastic portion attached, tissue boxes can be tossed in with cardboard.
Items Not to Leave Curbside:
Packing Peanuts
To recycle packing peanuts, check to see if they are biodegradable. Submerge in water. If it disintegrates, it can be recycled with other paper. If it's not biodegradable, consider giving them to a local business in your area. Check the Plastic Loose Fill Council for a retailer near you.
Phone Books
You can recycle phone books, but not in many curbside programs. Some cities have designated times for phone book pick-ups. You can also check Yellow Pages for a drop off location near you.
Still tossing some recyclable items in the trash by mistake? Don't beat yourself up; it takes time to get in the habit. Check out this journey to recycling.
To learn more, see our complete list of what can be recycled.
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