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Recyclable Paper is a Resource

154,574 tons were disposed of at the landfill in 2006

KC Waste Stream What's in your garbage? Seventy-five percent of materials thrown away are resources – not waste.

What is it?

Newsprint, corrugated and non-corrugated cardboard, low grade paper (phone books, magazines, junk mail), high grade paper (printer and copier paper, stationery, and colored paper), books, and milk cartons are all recyclable. Kitchen paper waste is often contaminated and not suitable for paper recycling. Instead, put it in your yard waste bin if your waste service area collect food scraps and food-soiled paper.

Why recycle paper?

In the landfill, paper is a wasted resource. Kept out of the landfill, paper can be recycled many times, each time to a lower grade. High–grade office paper is recycled into lower grade paper such as newsprint. Newsprint may be recycled into egg cartons. Paper fibers may be recycled up to seven times! Recycling one ton of recycled paper saves 3,700 pounds of lumber and 24,000 gallons of water.

What can you do?

• If you are not signed up for curbside garbage collection, consider doing so. In most cases, recycling service is included in your bill.
• If you self-haul, separate the paper and drop it off at the free recycling section of the transfer station.
• Use the What do I do with…? Web site to locate a private drop box.

What happens to the paper that gets recycled?

Waste paper has become a global commodity with much of it going to other countries, especially China. The U.S. has many paper companies that use varying amount of recycled content to make new paper. Many businesses demand that their paper has recycled content. Please view a photo gallery of the SeaDruNar recycling facility (PDF, 3.5 MB).

See What Happens to Your Recyclables in this 10 minute video (Please choose your preferred video format):

• Windows Media variable speed format (Windows Media Player required - free download available)
• Real Media variable speed format (RealPlayer required - free download available)

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