We recommend using a designated paper recycling bin to collect paper waste. Keep the paper you recycle as clean as possible by collecting it in separate containers from other recyclable materials. This is the best way to ensure that waste paper can be properly recycled. Earth911 is a universal resource that helps you find your own shade of green.
Waste paper is a vital ingredient in a healthy compost heap. If you don't have the space (or time) to build one yourself, you can recycle the paper as mulch. Simply cut it into small strips and place it around your plants. Of course, always check with your own waste management center and remember that the zero-waste lifestyle is about recycling less, NOT more.
Not only that, but recycled paper uses 70 percent less energy and produces up to 73 percent less pollution than making paper from raw materials. Making handmade paper is also a great way to teach children the basics of paper making and how paper is recycled, since it's actually no different from what happens in waste paper facilities across the country. While tissue paper is made from organic materials, the fibers have already been largely refined, and without the right technologies and capabilities, they may not be able to be fully recycled once again. I understand that in some municipalities they carry shredded paper that is packaged in a plastic bag.
If there is only a little ornament (for example, a small ribbon), you can tear it off and put it in your regular bin and recycle the rest. While other materials, such as shrink plastic or used cooking oil (UCO), can only be reused two or three times, paper can be reused five to seven times before the fibers become too short and weak to be reused. Learn more facts and figures and other details about paper recycling in the answers to the frequently asked questions below. If you have more paper or cardboard waste than your recycle bin can contain, local authorities accept paper in their recycling collections; visit the Recycle Now website and enter your zip code for information on local recycling options.
Good quality paper (such as printer paper) has long fibers, making it an ideal candidate for recycling.
