Paper Bags Recycling Facts

There are 20 percent more trees in the u s.

Paper bags recycling facts. Paper bags generate 70 more air pollutants than plastic. Product packaging has gotten complicated. So complicated that figuring out what s recyclable and what isn t can be. Paper can only be recycled four to six times and recycled paper is usually mixed with virgin tree pulp for strength so recycled paper bags are rarely made from 100 percent recycled materials.

Two thirds of packaging material recovered for recycling is paper more than the combined total of glass metal and plastic. In fact some aren t even completely made from paper. Now than there was on the first earth day in 1970. According to municipal solid waste data from the epa only 32 5 percent of glass 55 1 percent of aluminum and 31 2 percent of pet bottles and jars were recycled in 2014.

Paper bag facts paper bags are renewable recyclable reusable and compostable. It takes 91 percent less energy to recycle a plastic bag than it does a paper bag. Paper bags are made from a renewable resource trees. But not all paper bags are as they seem.

This represents a 64 energy savings a 58 water savings and 60 pounds less of air pollution. Paper bags are very thick so shipping them costs more fuel per bag. Paper bag recycling less than 15 percent of paper bags in the united states are recycled. If your community recycles chances are paper bags are fair game.