Recycled paper has literally tons of uses. By re-using paper, we save money as well as energy and we save the Earth while doing it. When we recycle, we are saving nature and thus giving a gift to our future generations, not just in the United States or China, but all over the world.

One of the first questions one may ask is about other reasons recycling is done, other than just saving the environment. Indeed there are other reasons.


Landfills

Space for waste here on Earth is limited, and in some places, especially high population areas, premiums for dumping are high and landfill space is very expensive. Creating a landfill takes away from the space that would oherwise be used for housing, parks or office buildings. An alternative is to simply keep the land intact, free of any urban growth.


Economy

Another reason for recycling is borne out in the fact that when anything is recycled, it goes back into the economy, producing more profit for companies, and is being reborn into different uses. Alternatively, paper, or anything else, for that matter, sitting in a landfill will not do anything except drain money from people's pockets. Also, the economic incentive for companies to buy goods made from recycled materials is quite high. By buying recycled goods, and the prices of those items are the same or less than products made from raw materials, they are not only helping to lessen the demand for virgin materials, but they are also helping to reduce the United States trade deficit with nations around the world such as Japan, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Venezuela, Spain, and Italy.


Energy Costs

One of the incentives for recycling is tied into the environment, but is actually a bit different. When companies(and people) recycle and choose recycled products, they are choosing the path of least energy costs and increasing conservation of non-renewable natural rescources. An example is recycled paper, each ton of which uses 4,100 kilowatt-hours less energy and requires 7,000 fewer gallons of water to produce. Also, paper recycling results in less polution of the environment, and saves more than 3 cubic yards of municipal landfill volume(by, of course, not being there), so the energy costs are indeed tied to the environmental benefits.


The Need for Paper Recycling

Of all materials that need to be recycled, paper is one of the main players. The reason for this is being that scrap paper and paperboard products account for 40 percent of solid waste in landfills and, of the recyclables produced in the United States alone, it has been computed that 35 million tons of scrap paper is produced annually and that is second only to scrap iron and steel. That is an incredible amount! The United States uses over 85 million tons of scrap paper and paperboard, which means, on average, each person uses about 700 pounds of paper products. However, out of this, the U.S. only recycles 34 million tons. As a consequence of this, the need for recycling is great.


More Informational Pages:

Contraries and Stickies

Paper Recycling Levels

Pulper and Feeder Types




Scrap Paper Grades

When paper is to be recycled, it first needs to go through a rigirous sorting process, and is sorted into what are called paper grades. These grades are clearly defined specifications that must be followed, and any waste is as strictly controlled as possible.

For a detailed list of paper grades, click here.


As Ocean Capital Inc. grows, we aim to become a major player to help and inform our customers as well as the public at large concerning the paper sciences. Check back soon for news, events, and informative articles on Ocean Capital, Inc.