America Recycles Day (ARD) is November 15, and we
want everyone to know that Arkansas Recycles. In 2010, Arkansans recycled
nearly 1.5 million tons, 32 percent of the solid waste generated in the
state.
We’ve chosen to focus our ARD efforts on paper because paper products
made up the largest percentage, 28.2 percent, of the waste stream in 2009 according
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Approximately 62 percent of that was recovered
for recycling.
The 2010 recycling figures for Arkansas included 153,617 tons of paper products,
such as newspapers, white office paper and corrugated cardboard. See the State of Recycling
reports for additional information.
To Make a Ton of Paper |
We Use These Raw Materials
- 3,688 pounds of wood
- 216 pounds of lime
- 360 pounds of salt cake
- 76 pounds of soda ash
- 24,000 gallons of water
- 28 million BTUs of energy
|
We Would Have to Treat and Dispose of:
|
- 84 pounds of air pollutants
- 36 pounds of water pollutants
- 176 pounds of solid waste
|
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Resources Saved by Recycling One Ton of Newspaper:
- the equivalent of one ton of paper made from about 17 trees.
- two to three cubic yards of landfill space
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Here are some activities to help you examine paper recycling in your
classroom or home.
Links for more information about trees, paper and paper recycling
Links for more information about recycling and solid waste
