Our waste is related to climate change, so an optimal management of it, as well as responsible consumption, allows us to reduce the possible negative effects of its degradation processes on the environment. All the matter produced in nature returns to it decomposed and reabsorbed by the environment, which is why it is part of natural cycles. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to adequately treat the waste we generate, as we increase the amount of it and vary its composition (plastics, metals, paper, etc.), thus increasing the danger and toxicity of said waste degradation.
In this Green Ecologist article we bring you detailed information about the recycling, reuse and degradation of one of the most human-generated waste: paper. Keep reading and you will discover how long it takes for the paper to degrade.
How long does it take for paper to degrade - the answer
Used paper takes 1 year to degrade. Compared to other groups of waste that we routinely produce, paper has a relatively low degradation period. Here are some concrete examples of other materials and the time it takes for them to disappear from nature once we convert them into "trash", to get a more exact idea of these differences in degradation times between the different groups of waste:
- Used paper: 1 year
- Butts: 1-2 years
- Chewing gum: 5 years
- Soda cans: 200-500 years
- Glass bottles: more than 5,000 years
If you want to know more about how long it takes to degrade waste or waste, you can consult this other article by Ecologist Verde. In the next sections we will continue giving information about the degradation of paper, the importance of recycling it, as well as different ideas for reusing it.
Why is it important to recycle paper
The time that paper and other waste remain in the environment entails various environmental issues associated, such as soil, water and air pollution; as well as the increased risk of forest fires, health risks and the alteration of the life cycles of animals and plants.
Specifically, paper recycling favors reductions in deforestation of forests Whole dedicated to the exploitation of paper and wood. For this reason, recycling paper contributes to reducing the thousands of hectares used in different countries around the world for the exploitation of paper, as well as reducing pollution caused by ink and other chemicals used in the papers we use. in our day to day.
What's more, use recycled paper Compared to the use of newly produced paper, it has numerous advantages, such as reducing the number of trees and kilograms of wood as raw material to produce it, and reducing the liters of water and energy consumed for the production of paper. In this other article we talk about What is the environmental impact of paper production and in this other post you can expand the information on Why it is important to recycle paper and cardboard.
Continue reading the next sections of this interesting article to discover how to reuse and recycle paper, thus preventing paper degradation from contributing to current and future environmental problems.
How to reuse paper
In recent years, numerous advertising campaigns focused on waste management warn us that "the best waste is the one that is not generated" and, to emphasize this statement, the reuse of products such as paper is essential.
Beyond the classic reuse of "one-sided" folios for another purpose, printed papers can be used both to decorate and manufacture holiday and greeting cards, as well as to do crafts and collage. Another useful way to reuse paper is to use newspaper and magazine papers to wrap gif.webpts and fragile objects that we want to transport.
Without a doubt, the limits of paper reuse they will be marked only by the limits of our imagination.
How to recycle paper - what container does it go in?
The Blue container is the one dedicated to recycling of paper and cardboard waste. By depositing the waste paper that we will no longer use in it, we are favoring that this material can be recycled up to 6 times, without the cellulose fibers of the same losing quality. When depositing paper and / or cardboard waste in the blue container, we must take into account the following tips:
- If the paper or cardboard is stained with organic remains (such as grease or oil), we must deposit them in the generic or reject container (usually gray).
- The cardboard boxes of the medicines must be deposited in the pharmacies, so that they can continue their specific recycling towards the production of new boxes of pharmaceutical products.
- Whenever we can, we should choose to use recycled paper, rather than buying new, non-recycled paper.
- As for the books that are in good condition but that we do not want, instead of recycling them in the blue container, we can give them away, donate them or take them to a second-hand bookstore or do "bookcrossing", the wonderful and ingenious practice of leaving books in public places for other readers to collect, with the possibility of taking your other one in exchange.
If you want to learn more about the topic of recycling paper, take a look at this other article on How to recycle paper at home step by step and What is recycled in the blue container and what is not.
If you want to read more articles similar to How long does it take for paper to degrade?, we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category.
References- Rodríguez, R., Gómez, N., Zarauza, P. & Benítez, A. M. (2013) Environmental Education, Waste and Recycling. Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of the Junta de Andalucía, Ecoembes & Ecovidrio.
- Rodríguez, G. & IMAGINA, Education and Leisure Team (2015) University guide to environmental education on waste and recycling. Andalusia EcoCampus.
