10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Paper Waste

Paper consumption in the United States for the last 20 years has increased from 92 million tons to 208 million, a growth of 126%. ~ Record Nations
Paper and paperboard (cardboard) materials make up the largest component of municipal solid waste (MSW). ~ EPA
In 2018, paper made up 11.8% of landfills. ~ EPA
Paper and paperboad is the most recycled material. ~ EPA
Paper can only be recycled 5-7 times. It is made up of long fibers, so every time it is recycled, those fibers will be shortened, making it harder to be recycled the next time. ~ Earth 911
The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year! ~ University of Southern Indiana
The average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. ~ Record Nations
45% of paper printed in offices ends up trashed by the end of the day. ~ Road Runner
Paper production is responsible for 14% of deforestation. ~ Live Science
Deforestation is the second leading cause of climate change (the first is the burning of fossil fuels). ~ Food and Agricultural Organization