Updated On 08/11/2019
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pounds of CO₂e
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It’s made in sheets from fibrous plant materials like cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin
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Hardwood and softwood trees are the most common source of fibers for paper
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Yucca, corn, bamboo, rice, and cotton can also be used to make paper
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All of the above
While made primarily with natural resources, chemicals are sometimes added to paper to improve brightness and water resistance.
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Coated paper: Additives create the glossy shine of magazines or food packaging
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Uncoated paper: More absorptive of ink and often used for newsprint and office paper
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Recycled paper: Either entirely or partially made from recycled materials
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All of the above
Products like newsprint can be uncoated AND made from recycled materials. They can generally be recycled after another use, too.
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Paper scraps from the manufacturing process are usually recycled at the mill
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When paper has been made but not yet sold, it’s known as “pre-consumer paper”
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Post-consumer paper is when paper products have been both sold and used
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All of the above
Paper can be recycled at any of those stages, but individual paper fibers can only be recycled 5–7 times before becoming unusable.
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Paper products containing food, medical, or toxic waste
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Paper with wax coating or other adornments like glitter or vinyl
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Paper or cardboard that has a noticeable amount of grease on it (like pizza boxes)
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All of the above
These contaminants can damage machines or send whole batches of recyclables to landfills, which is why they don’t belong in recycling bins.
BEYOND THE REAM
We use paper every day and almost everywhere, but what do you really know about this versatile material? With this short quiz, you’ll find out where paper comes from, and how to ensure that paper products get new lives through recycling.
