7 Steps to Recycle Paper

Recycling paper brings both environmental and economic benefits

• Air emissions are reduced by 95% when paper is recycled and there is less pollution because recycled paper does not need to be bleached with chlorine during production (Waste Online).
• Emissions of methane are also reduced when paper waste is diverted from landfill as this potent greenhouse gas is a by-product of the decomposition process.
• Forest diversity is maintained becuase there is less demand for conifer plantations for paper production, which destroy forest ecosystems.
• Producing one tonne of recycled paper saves 3000 litres of water and uses 78% less energy compared to virgin production (Waste Online).

Seven steps to support paper recycling

In many office environments paper is the highest volume waste stream and therefore is a good place to start when thinking about setting up a new recycling scheme.

1. Reduce - start by first looking at ways to reduce the amount of paper waste you produce. Can internal documents be printed double-sided? Is it necessary to print everything or can some documents be stored electronically? Use an email footer to encourage others to consider the environment before printing.
2. Re-use – can scrap paper be re-used? Why not collect scrap paper in a desktop paper collector and leave it next to the printer for others to use?
3. Recycle - separate waste paper in a container which is clearly marked for recycling. Arrange with your local authorised carrier to come and collect the waste paper for recycling. This is usually fairly inexpensive compared to disposing of waste in landfill (which currently costs £48.00 per tonne) and you could make significant savings
4. Confidential - you may need to separate confidential paper waste in a secure container but this can still be recycled. Most carriers will ensure your confidential waste is safely removed, shredded in a secure environment and then used for paper pulp.
5. Promotion – to ensure your new paper recycling scheme is sucessful it is vital to educate everyone involved and raise awareness about the importance of making it work. Use colourful and eye-catching signage to make sure people know where to dispose of their waste.
6. Other ideas - you could even shred some of your waste paper to use in compost! Shredded or scrunched up paper will help keep your compost healthy and aerated by trapping small pockets of air. This aids the decomposition process and prevents your compost from emtting methane.
7. Procurement – Remember it is also important to support the market for recycled paper by purchasing it for your business. Most recycled paper nowadays is very high quality and may cost less than  non-recycled paper.

What are the benefits to my business?

As discussed there are significant economic benefits resulting from good waste management practices as well as the more obvious environmental benefits.

• Cost savings - Envirowise estimate that a company can save up to 4.5% of its annual turnover through waste minimisation alone and paper is often the highest volume recyclable waste stream in an office environment. Recycling will also save on expensive landfill disposal costs.
• Comply with regulations - waste regulations are continually being amended and as legislation becomes more stringent it is only a matter of time before recycling all major waste streams becomes a legal requirement.
• Improved environmental performance - attract environmentally concious customers, enhance your company CSR Policy and gain recognition for your achievements through award schemes such as ISO 14001.

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