Many communities have well-established recycling programs in place for newspaper and magazines recycling. Which is crucial considering that the EPA says each year more than 350 magazines and 24 billion newspapers are published. Paper accounts for more than a third of all recyclables collected in the United States, by weight. Nearly forty-five million tons of paper and paperboard were recovered in 2010—a recycling rate of over 63 percent. According to the American Forest and Paper Association the amount of paper recovered for recycling in 2010 averaged 334 pounds (151 kg) for each person living in the U.S.
Newspapers tend to get recycled more often than magazines. Recycled newspapers can be turned into cellulose insulation, cardboard, kitty litter, and egg cartons. Magazines have a high clay content and can become paperboard and new newsprint.
Recycling either saves trees and water, plus reduces air and water pollution. It also reduces the amount of paper clogging our landfills. Paper can’t biodegrade without access to air, water, light, microbes, and enzymes, which aren't available in an overstuffed landfill.
If your community offers curbside recycling, make a habit of filling your bin with newspapers and magazines.
If curbside isn’t available where you live, your community might still offer paper recycling at a dump or transfer station. For this you’ll need a larger container. When you’ve accumulated newspapers and magazines for a few weeks, bring it in.
If there is no paper recycling where you live, ask for it!
