Canadians are using too much paper: Statistics

Only 10 per cent of paper is actually recycled in Canada, and 41 per cent of material that could be composted and recycled is being tossed in the garbage.

Some statistics

• If you use a disposable container every day you create about 23 pounds of waste each year.

• If every Canadian household used one roll of recycled toilet paper it would save 48,000 trees, 65.5 million litres of water and avoid 4,567 kilograms of air and water pollution and manufacturing.

• It takes 12 trees to make one ton of paper which makes 8,333 sheets of paper.

• Recycle NB recycles not just paper but also bike tires, electronics, oil/glycol and paint.

The recycling process

When paper is properly recycled, it is picked up from a home/business and taken to a recycling plant where it is separated into different types and grades. The paper then gets washed to remove any glue and/or staples and put into a large holder where it is mixed with water to create "slurry." Different products can be create depending on what is added to the slurry such as cardboard, newspaper and office paper. The slurry is spread onto large rollers into thin sheets. The paper is left to dry and then it is rolled up ready to be cut and sent to the customers.

We are able to make simple changes in our lives to change the amount of paper that gets used one of the biggest one is instead of working on paper during school and work try to move to typing your notes, assignments and doing the majority of your work online.