Many are under the assumption that paper bags are much better for the environment than plastic ones. While paper is more biodegradable, and it does present a small difference, it isn’t as good as you think. Those paper bags still make their way to landfills, where they must take time to decompose.
Have you fallen victim to these five myths about recycled paper? Continue reading to find out!
Myth #1: Paper Bags Are Eco-Friendly
Truth: Paper bags may be more landfill friendly, but they aren’t very eco-friendly. The reason? Paper comes from trees, and even when it’s “recycled” it still originally came from lots of trees. Deforestation due to paper and construction industries is a huge issue and will continue to be so long as there is a demand for paper… like paper bags.
Myth #2: They Are Made From 100% Recycled Materials
Truth: A scant few paper bags are made from 100% recycled materials. Typically, they contain substantial amounts of recycled paper and lesser amounts of new paper. This means that yes, more trees must be cut down to create “recycled” paper bags. It isn’t as much as creating brand new bags, but it does still make an impact over time.
Myth #3: Recycling Them After Makes It Okay
Truth: Those big trucks which collect the recycling? They burn more fuel and produce more environmental harm than you save by recycling those paper bags. The idea is to not NEED those trucks, which makes reusable bags better than something which can be recycled.
Myth #4: Recycling Paper Bags Is Cheap
Truth: The paper bags you recycle get thrown in with everything else – glass, plastics, etc. When it reaches the recycling plant there is no special machine to sort everything. Instead, all of that is sorted by hand into the proper places so it can be recycled.
The result is a lot of manpower, which costs quite a bit of money – typically which comes in the form of taxes. For example, a small locality may only require 20 full time workers to sort their recycling. If they paid them only minimum wage (which is often not the case) then those workers would cost the locality approximately $300,000 annually.
Myth #5: If Paper Bags Are Sent to The Recycling Plant, They Are Recycled
Truth: This myth is partially true, and the good news is that it proves to be truer with each passing year. For now, however, not all those paper bags are getting recycled. In fact, as much as half or more of them end up getting thrown away anyways. The reason? That pesky hand sorting we talked about. Plastics are the most common recyclables sent to the landfill anyways, but paper bags come in at a solid two.
Although recycled paper bags are a little better for the environment than plastic, the difference isn’t that much. A better option is to invest in reusable shopping bags like those available at custom earth promo. With them, you can make a lasting difference for the environment.