Recycle Paper, Save Trees!

In 2019, the paper recycling rate in Hong Kong hit a record low of 35% *.

In 2020, the second largest constituent of Municipal Solid Waste was paper (after food waste 30% et before plastic 21%): 2,643 tonnes per day (24,5% of Municipal Solid Waste) were disposed at landfills **.

Though paper represents 29% of recyclables recovered from Municipal Solid Waste in 2020, and most of it is exported for recycling **.

Life Cycle of Paper

During the recycling process, the paper is separated into different types and washed to remove any film, glue, ink and other contaminants.

Once clean, it is then mixed with water to create a pulp. This pulp is then pressed, dried and rolled into large thin sheets. These rolls are cut and used as recycled paper for newspaper, books and other goods.

Good to know: paper can be recycled 5 to 7 times ****.

Its ability to be recycled is lowered after every reuse as the fibers become shorter.

Your impact in this context!

You now know recycling saves energy, resources and water.

Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees ***.

And it takes 40% less energy and 50% less water to recycle paper than to create new paper from trees. ******

So don’t forget to recycle all your paper!

Paper you can recycle

How to best recycle paper:

• Remove plastic covers

• Remove plastic coated pages

• Remove plastic tape, staples and glue

• Remove ring binders and other non-paper materials

• Remove adhesive flaps and plastic windows from envelopes

• Keep the paper dry

For more details, click here

Hong Kong offices consume 190 million sheets of paper a week ***** : if stacked, the pile would be equivalent to 51 times the height of International Finance Centre.

So remember, Recycle your paper, Save trees!

References:

*https://ienv.ust.hk/news/recycling-nowhere#:~:text=While%20the%20volume%20of%20scrap,41%20percent%20the%20year%20before.

**https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/sites/default/files/msw2020.pdf

***https://www.shredit.co.uk/en-gb/blog/sustainability/how-does-recycling-paper-help-the-environment

****https://www.iamrenew.com/knowledge-hub-sustainability/recycle-conundrum-how-many-times-can-recyclables-be-recycled/

*****https://www.ejinsight.com/eji/article/id/2191725/20190715-hk-offices-consume-190-million-sheets-of-paper-a-week-survey

******https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/energy-and-the-environment/recycling-and-energy.php#:~:text=Recycling%20saves%20energy%20in%20the%20production%20of%20new%20products&text=For%20every%20one%20ton%20of,and%20uses%2050%25%20less%20water.