Fact: Making recycled paper uses 30-55% less energy than making paper out of new trees.

The first step is reducing, then recycle and what makes the whole process cost effective and actually work is to buy recycled products! Buying recycled merchandise helps establish demand and maintain markets for these items. As demand increases, more markets will develop for the materials and in time, collection programs will prosper.

Some clarification on what to look for in purchasing recycled goods: "Post consumer- refers to all the material that passes through consumers’ hands on the way to the waste stream. For example, a newspaper that you read and recycle is considered to be post-consumer waste. But a newspaper that languished on the newsstand or was never sold to a consumer before being recycled is not.

Pre consumer -refers to waste that is created during the manufacture of goods (or goods that are recycled without ever having been sold- such as the unwanted newspaper mentioned above). During the printing of your Sunday paper, for example, a certain percentage of paper is wasted when the presses are set up. If this waste paper is recycled, it is considered pre-consumer recycled material."- How to make the world a better place by Jeffery Hollender with Linda Catling

Fact: 95% less air pollution and one tree saved for every 150 pounds of paper you recycle.

Fact: Throwing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as if you filled the can half full of gasoline and poured it on the ground. Yet it barely takes as much energy as there is in a tablespoon of gas to recycle that can.

Some resources for purchasing recycled items: Seventh Generation 1-800-456-1177   Provides high quality, earth–friendly products that are safe for the environment. If you order through this brochure you can save 15% and donate 5% to EFG! We use their products at home and highly recommend them. Their full color catalog features hundreds of other items from organic cotton bedding and nightwear to energy saving kitchen appliances and cellulose sponges and baggies (*note: for those of you who inquired about earth first selling those baggies, we recommend you check out these in the catalog for the best price).

Real Goods Trading Corporation 1-800-762-7325 Sells products for households made from recycled materials, energy saving items, environmentally friendly household products.

Eastern Plastics 770-418-1088 Use recycled plastics and wood to make lumber and patio furniture. Durable, weather resistant, attractive, and best of all- recyclable!