There are some office recycling stats that are, quite frankly, pretty amazing when you take a look at them.  Recycling is an essential part of protecting our planet, and everyone has a responsibility to do what they can, even at the workplace.  Any business can play an important role to reduce waste.  Keep in mind these facts when considering commercial recycling and office recycling programs.

Paper and Cardboard Recycling Facts

While some sources state that the US has a recycling rate of approximately 66%, other sources say that up to 45% of all paper products end up in a landfill.  According to the EPA, the average office worker can go through 2 pounds of paper or cardboard waste per year and 50% of waste each year is paper.  When you times that by how many workers are in an office, that fact is mind-boggling if you aren’t participating in a recycling pickup program.  In total, it is estimated that US offices use about 4 million tons of copy paper each year.  Switching to recycled paper could make a world of difference in eliminating office waste.

Food Recycling Facts

Food takes up the most space in landfills, approximately 22% of all landfill space.  And Americans are known to throw away a lot of food.  About 30-40% of food is wasted and sent to the landfill.  Office recycling can do a lot to reduce food waste.  Companies can consider ways to reduce the food imprint in an organic way.  A compost pile is a great way to reuse food waste for a better purpose.  Composting can reduce food waste by up to 30%.

Plastic Recycling Facts

Recycling rates for plastic are extremely low.  It is reported that only 8.7% of all plastic is recycled.  When offices recycle, it significantly reduces the destruction of the oceans as well as contributes to energy savings.  Do you bring water bottles to work?  Another statistic states that of the 50 billion water bottles bought each year, half of those are only used once and only 23% end up being recycled. It’s clear that we must do our part.  Contact a recycling company to find out more about office recycling programs or to schedule recycling pickup. Mission Recycling is here to help.