Paper is the most recycled product compared to metal, glass, plastic and most other materials.  It is also biodegradable when it has a chance to mix with air, water and sunlight. 

Consider these facts:

• In 2010, 63% of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling – nearly 344 pounds for each man, woman and child in America¹.
• The recovery rate for other materials is much lower²:

                        7% for plastics

                        18% for electronic products

                        22% for glass

                        36% for metal

• The Unites States now dumps between 200 and 300 million electronic items per year.  E-waste represents an estimated 25% of waste in U.S. landfills and 70% of toxic waste found there.²

What does all of this mean?  As we have shown over the last 5 Paper Myth posts, paper is not as inefficient as many people believe.  Some efforts of “going green” are really aimed at “saving green,” which end up utilizing other resources anyway. 

All human activity uses resources and generates waste.  Technological progress and innovation will continue, as it should, so the real challenge is how to become more efficient using all of our communication tools, both print and electronic.

¹U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

²U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2008 Statistics