Everyone has a part to play in minimizing waste and promoting recycling. Apart from recycling at home, you can easily start a paper-recycling project in your office, community, church, club or school.
Our very own CAHS students have decided to take a stand. Junior, Management Information Systems major and CAHS DOMCIT employee has teamed up with Devyn Pleasant, a sophomore, Animal Science major and Ayesha Rodgers, a senior MANNRS Treasurer to kick off a CAHS pilot paper recycle program.
The environmental benefits of paper recycling are many. Paper recycling:
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change by avoiding methane emissions and reducing energy required for a number of paper products.
- Extends the fiber supply and contributes to carbon sequestration.
- Saves considerable landfill space.
- Reduces energy and water consumption.
- Decreases the need for disposal.
On the other hand, when trees are harvested for papermaking, carbon is released, generally in the form of carbon dioxide. When the rate of carbon absorption exceeds the rate of release, carbon is said to be “sequestered.” This carbon sequestration reduces greenhouse gas concentrations by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
This trio has found that paper in the U.S. represents one of the biggest components of solid waste in landfills – 26 million tons (or 16% of landfill solid waste) in 2009.
Be on the look out for the WOW! Bins in the CEP and your personal recycle box for your office, coming soon. The ladies hope to make a difference, not only in CEP, but also all over CAHS and eventually campus wide. Join the team of life changers and help recycle paper products, for a better future.
Insert this in designed box somewhere:
Recycling one ton of paper would:
- Save enough energy to power the average American home for six months.
- Save 7,000 gallons of water.
- Save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE).