On item which is routinely recycled in the
United States is paper. Paper which has been used can be converted
back into paper pulp and used to create recycled paper products such
as copier paper, newsprint paper, toilet paper and tissue papers.
Approximately half of the paper used in the U.S. today is recycled,
much of it coming from commercial business recycling programs.
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Recycling paper is not without its
environmental issues. The act of turning old paper into new paper
pulp entails a lot of work and machinery found in large industrial
plants. While no one in their right mind would suggest that paper
recycling is not necessary, it is a process which requires a
significant amount of energy to complete. The paper has to be
transported to the paper recycling plant, made back into paper pulp,
and then new paper and corrugated supplies must be made. The whole
process requires fossil fuels and a significant amount of energy to
complete.
Commercial paper recycling programs amount to about 80% of all
paper recycled today. Businesses of just about any size now
have paper recycling containers throughout their buildings for their
employees to put their used paper into. When visiting a
business today you will often find a recycling container for white
paper and another for colored. The different papers need to be
separated for recycling. Newspaper can also be recycled and
requires its own recycling container.
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Once the recycling containers are full they are generally hauled off by the
local waste disposal company and taken to a paper recycling plant for
processing.
There are many ways that you, as an individual,
can support the paper recycling process. The easiest is to put your
used paper into your kitchen garbage recycling containers. From
there you can dump them into your compost pile and the paper will
break-down into soil, just as normal household kitchen garbage
will.
Another way you can support paper recycling is
to purchase recycled paper cards and recycled paper checks along
with your recycled copier paper. 
By using recycled paper products
you are helping to support paper recycling in your area, and helping
to eliminate trees being cut from the forests to make paper.
Next time you visit your local grocery market
be sure to notice whether or not they are using recycled paper
shopping bags. If they are they make a nice change from using the
usual plastic ones made from petroleum products.
When
you shop be on the lookout for recycled paper products such as
recycled toilet paper, recycled tissue and recycled paper towels.
By supporting the companies who make these products you are
supporting paper recycling.
