Sheri Bowyer

Going paperless saves money, is extremely convenient and good for the environment. While we have made huge strides in this effort,we still use a lot of paper. Every year, each of us uses approximately one 100-foot tall Douglas fir tree in paper. Whether it’s office paper, newspaper, mail, or magazines we’re far from paperless, but we can recycle every little bit of it. In 2007, more than 56 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. This is an all time high and equals nearly 360 pounds of paper for each man, woman, and child in America.

Just over 48 percent of office paper is recovered for recycling and used for paperboard, tissue, and printing and writing papers. Over 73 percent of all newspapers are recovered for recycling and almost a third goes back into making more newsprint. The remainder is used to make paperboard, tissue, insulation, paper towels, notebook paper, molded packaging, compost, and even kitty litter. Recycled paper can also be made into construction material like wallboard, roofing paper, flooring, and padding. The environmental benefit from recycling paper is huge. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, and two barrels of oil. Paper recycling also saves 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is enough energy to power the average American home for five months. In addition, recycling paper generates 74 percent less air pollution.

A paperless society may be somewhere in the future, but for now we still love our paper. The best way to recycle your paper is to keep it dry and clean and properly sort each type. Newspaper, magazines, office paper, and mixed paper are all recycled separately. Start recycling your paper and bring it to Thomas Refuse Recycling Center at 2000 Chain Ave in Lake Isabella.

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E

It begins with you and me.

To find out more information on how to recycle visit www.thomasrefuse.us or contact Thomas Refuse Service at 760-379-2618. Please forward all recycling questions or comments to sheri@thomasrefuse.us.