How does switching to recycled paper reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
A. In the landfill, where 80% of discarded paper ends up, the decomposition of paper produces methane, a greenhouse gas with 21 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide. Paper recycling recovers used paper from the waste stream, directly reducing the amount of paper placed in landfills. Thus for recycled papers, any increase in greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing is more than outweighed by reductions in emissions from landfills. Q. Why does using paper with recycled content matter, and what makes recyclable paper “earth-friendly”? A. Rigorous scientific research supports the benefits of recycled paper, and government agencies, environmental groups, and many other large purchasers have adopted policies mandating its use. You can be assured that you are doing the right thing for the environment by using recycled paper and the higher the level of postconsumer recycled content, the better. • It helps preserve forests, because it reduces demand for wood; • It conserves reso
