{"id":743,"date":"2016-09-08T06:49:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T06:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postscanmail.com\/benefits-mail-recycling.html\/"},"modified":"2023-07-18T04:12:02","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T11:12:02","slug":"benefits-mail-recycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.postscanmail.com\/blog\/benefits-mail-recycling.html","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Mail Recycling","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Mails play a significant role in our daily lives, despite the prevalence of email and the challenges brought by the global pandemic. Paper envelopes, glossy magazines, and cardstock postcards continue to be essential modes of communication. However, we often overlook the importance of recycling the vast number of mails that inundate our mailrooms and doorsteps every day, which presents a tremendous opportunity to reduce pollution and protect the environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Among the mail that arrives, there are various items that can be recycled. From unsolicited mail, commonly known as “junk mail,” to envelopes with plastic address windows, bubble mailers, shipping boxes, and packing peanuts, a multitude of materials can find new life through recycling. Unfortunately, due to the perceived low value and confusion surrounding mail’s recyclability, millions of tons of valuable paper and cardboard end up in landfills across the United States annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

This situation represents a missed opportunity. Not all mail is junk; in fact, understanding what can and cannot be recycled benefits not only the economy and the environment but also reduces waste disposal costs for businesses. By taking the initiative to recycle paper envelopes, envelopes with plastic address windows, glossy magazines, and cardstock postcards, we can contribute to the preservation of our planet and create a cleaner, more sustainable future.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems simple enough, right?\u00a0 You use the recycling bins at home, the movie theater, the park, the beach, the amusement park, they are virtually everywhere for your aluminum cans, glass bottles, and paper products.<\/span><\/p>\n

You want to do your part in leaving the environment a better place and it\u2019s a simple enough thing to do.\u00a0 Recycling your everyday waste doesn\u2019t take time out of your day and it doesn\u2019t cost you any money, so it\u2019s a win\/win.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Waste Problem Caused By Junk Mail And Online Retail<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As per the USPS, the postal service handles and delivers a staggering 173.1 million pieces of first-class mail every day. In this mix, it is estimated that each American receives approximately 18 pieces of junk mail for every legitimate piece of mail they expect. The primary source of this flood of mail is American businesses, which sent out a remarkable 149 billion pieces of direct mail and nearly 9.8 billion catalogs in 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n

These numbers add up to an average of 41 pounds of junk mail per person per year, with approximately 50% of it being discarded without being opened or recycled. Shockingly, this results in over 5.6 million tons of catalogs, addressed envelopes, and other direct mail advertisements ending up in U.S. landfills annually, when considering just the envelopes, contents, magazines, and cardstock forms of junk mail, it is estimated that American households collectively waste the equivalent of 100 million trees’ worth of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

The situation is compounded by the rise of digital retail, which experienced significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, online consumer spending reached a staggering $861.12 billion, marking a 44% increase from the previous year. This surge in online shopping necessitates a substantial amount of shipping boxes and packaging materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fibre Box Association reveals that U.S. manufacturers produced a vast 407 billion square feet of corrugated cardboard, a year-over-year increase equivalent to an additional 477 square miles of product. The shipping industry witnessed unprecedented demand, with box shipments reaching a record-breaking 34 billion square feet for five consecutive months in 2020, partially driven by online retail giant Amazon shipping a staggering 415 million boxes in July 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

The excessive use of cardboard has detrimental effects on the environment. The Environmental Paper Network estimates that approximately 3 billion trees are harvested each year solely for paper packaging. While corrugated boxes boast an impressive recycling rate of 96.5%, there are still nearly 1.2 million tons being burned or sent to landfills.<\/span><\/p>\n

The continuous and robust flow of U.S. mail and the surge in online deliveries have led to shortages, supply bottlenecks, and soaring prices for recycled cardboard and mixed office paper. The current situation highlights the urgent need for e-commerce and direct mail senders to encourage their recipients, both commercial businesses and individual consumers, to recycle their mail and packages. Moreover, considering that paper and cardboard can be recycled up to seven times without any loss in quality, it becomes essential to recognize and prioritize the value in sorting and recycling these materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

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