Proper disposal of your unwanted paper

When it comes to waste, paper packs a punch. The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Happily, paper also is one of the most commonly recycled materials. About 88 percent of newspaper and 72 percent of corrugated cardboard were recovered in 2006, and paper products have an overall recycling rate of more than 50 percent, the EPA reports. Despite all the paper recycling that’s occurring, many people still are confused about what goes in their curbside bins and what should just get pitched in the garbage can. One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to recycle paper products is placing food-contaminated items in their bins, says Ann Murphy, education coordinator for the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System. “When you have a pizza box, you’re usually dealing with some greasy stains,” she says. Whether it’s grease, coffee or apple pie that has touched it, paper and cardboard can’t be recycled if it has been used to hold food; it must go into the trash. Murphy says to follow the following guidelines when recycling paper and cardboard products in your curbside bin: * “Fiber” items that can be placed in the bins are newspaper, phone books, corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags, magazines and catalogs. * Cardboard should be cut down to 2-foot by 2-foot squares. * Items should be bundled or placed in brown paper bags by type. For example, there should be a separate bag of newspapers, a separate bundle of cardboard, and so on. * Don’t let paper sit out in the rain or snow. If it gets too wet, it can’t be recycled. * In addition to food-contaminated paper, the following items cannot be recycled: junk mail, white or colored office paper, wax cardboard such as the material some milk cartons are made from, and noncorrugated cardboard (also called chipboard or paperboard), such as the type that backs up a pad of paper or makes cereal boxes. (Looking for some fun ways to repurpose empty cereal boxes? Check out these ideas: http://repurposeful.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/7-ways-to-repurpose-a-cereal-box/ http://thelongthread.com/?p=3750 http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthworm/2652343171/) * Even though junk mail can’t be recycled in bins, the color advertising inserts in your newspaper can. “There’s a certain tolerance” for those materials in the recycling process, Murphy says. Wait, you might be thinking! I recycle office paper at work, but can’t at home? Yes and no. You can’t put office paper in the regular residential recycle bins, but if you live in the city of Spokane you can call the Solid Waste department, (509) 625-7878, and order a “mixed office paper cart” for residential use. They’re stand-up carts, similar in shape to trash bins, that come in 30-, 60-, and 90-gallon sizes. It costs between about $6-$13 per month to use them, depending on size, but they can handle materials the regular bins can’t, including junk mail, cereal boxes, paperback books, toilet paper tubes, and, of course, office paper. Waste Management Inc., which handles recycling for most Spokane County residents who live outside the city of Spokane’s limits, doesn’t offer this service. Sometimes, giving paper new life occurs when people think beyond the curb. After announcing a commitment to go greener in February, organizers of the annual Bloomsday run found a way to reuse the half a million paper cups that participants toss on the street during the race route. Anyone who has participated in Bloomsday likely has noticed the sea of smashed cups. This year, the cups were collected and shipped off to a company that will mix the cups with yard scraps over a few months to create compost that can be used in gardens. At press time, race organizer Don Kardong said Bloomsday coordinators hadn’t had a chance yet to debrief the 2009 race and discuss how the cup collection went. If it was successful, “I’m sure we’ll do it again,” he said. Even if it didn’t go well, Kardong said the organization would find a way to improve the process as part of its recent commitment to be greener. “It’s the most abysmal mountain of trash we create, so it seemed like a good place to start,” he said. Questions about recycling paper and cardboard? Call the Recycling Hotline at (509) 625-6800. For more information about Americans’ paper use and recycling efforts, visit http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/paper/faqs.htm#use What other ways can people use less paper? “Think about not using the paper cups at the latte stand,” advises Ann Murphy, education coordinator for the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System. Also, use cloth instead of paper napkins or towels. Consider buying food in bulk and steer clear of individually-wrapped packages. Use reusable sacks and food-storage containers for school and work lunches. And when you must use a disposable food container, you can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing cups and cartons made from recycled paper.