|
|
Dear Rosie,
I heard recently that making paper from recycled paper actually causes more pollution than using trees to make paper. It sounds like Im hurting the environment if I recycle. Im a little confused.
Signed,
Recycler in Louisville
Dear Recycler,
Youre not alone in your confusion. This is a question frequently asked by concerned folks like you who want to be sure theyre doing the right thing. Let me assure you that making paper from recycled content is a far less toxic process than making paper from trees. Thats because chlorine bleaches are typically used to remove lignin from tree pulp. Lignin is the natural glue found in cellulose plants. Youll notice that newspapers turn yellow in the sun and white office paper doesnt. Thats because newspaper still has lignin in it and white paper has had it bleached out. That bleaching process creates dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known. Recycled paper, however, has already had lignin removed its first time around, so non-toxic substances like hydrogen peroxide can be used to re-whiten the paper and remove inks. It is therefore a FAR less toxic process.
To put it more simply: imagine that you have the job of making paper. Someone hands you a pile of white, recycled paper and a pile of cut trees and tells you to make paper from each of those piles. All you have to do with the recycled paper is throw it in a blender with some water, smooth it on a screen, press it, and voilà! Even without Hydrogen Peroxide youve got paper thats going to be pretty white. Now, try making paper from that pile of trees thats gonna take a little more effort, energy, and chemicals.
Recycled paper requires 64% less energy, needs 58% less water, results in 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution that paper made from virgin resources. So every time you recycle paper and buy recycled paper, you can be sure you are supporting a far more environmentally-friendly process.
Dear Rosie,
Now that the grocery stores dont accept Styrofoam meat trays, egg cartons, or restaurant to-go boxes anymore, what can I do with them?
Signed,
Stuck with Styrofoam
Dear Stuck,
Styrofoam is no longer recyclable by anyone in the region because theres just no market for it. There certainly is a supply, but no demand. We dont see any new markets developing in the near future, either; so what to do when you cant recycle? Precycle. As far as the eggs are concerned, we recommend buying the paper egg cartons that can be recycled with the paperboard at the drop-off center. Go one step further and buy your eggs at the Farmers Market and bring your empty carton back to the farmer for reuse!
For meat trays, our suggestion is to go to the meat counter and ask for a cut that is wrapped in butcher paper. The paper isnt recyclable either since its lined with a wax and comes in contact with food, but it is less harmful to the environment to produce than Styrofoam.
The next time you go to a restaurant and want a to-go container, ask the restaurant if they use something other than Styrofoam. Many restaurants do have an alternative. For those who offer only Styrofoam, send a message that you would like them to carry something environmentally-friendly by not accepting Styrofoam - whether that means bringing your own container or not taking the food home. If we all did that, wed get rid of the nasty stuff entirely. Its so polluting to produce; it would be better to evolve beyond its use than to recycle it.
Send your recycling questions to:
Ask Rosie
c/o Eco-Cycle
P.O. Box 19006
Boulder, CO 80308.
Or: e-mail Rosie at recycle@ecocycle.org.
If we print your letter, we'll send you an Eco-Cycle mug.
|
|
