Paper recycling in New Jersey and other locations continues to make a difference in the number of trees that must be cut down to make paper and other essential items. Yet, enough people are not taking the need for recycling seriously. While some areas have passed laws to protect their forests, many are doing a very poor job of policing these policies.
The United States is the largest user of wood in the world. Most logging operations in the United States operate legally, however, many factories where paper, toilet tissue, wood furniture, and other products are made use wood that has been illegally cut down. Almost 80 percent of the trees coming from Peru is illegally harvested. While 85 percent coming from Myanmar and 65 percent from the Democratic Republic of Congo are illegally harvested. Each person in the United States uses enough paper that seven trees must be cut down each year to make paper products if they are not made from recycled paper.
About 80 percent of animal species live in the forest. When forests are cut down many of these animals find it very hard to survive. One example is the Cross River gorilla with experts suggesting that there are less than 200 of these majestic animals left. One of the reasons for this is that roads for illegal logging have cut their territory into 11 smaller areas making it very difficult for them to breed successfully. Another example is the jaguar. These large cats once roamed from South America to the Southern United States. Now, there are only about 15,000 of them left with most of those living in South America where they are regularly hunted because they are a threat to livestock in areas where forests have already been cut down.
About 17 percent of greenhouse gases would not be present on the earth if the forest were not cut down. Deforestation is a leading contributor to climate change. When forests are cut down, then people are forced to farm for a living. The soil is poor in most cases, so the farmers must keep moving to new areas in hopes of raising a crop that can support their families.
If you are convinced that saving forests, the animals that live there and people’s way of life is important, then get busy helping to recycle paper in your area. If you live in New Jersey or Eastern Pennsylvania, then contact All County Recycling at (609)393-6445. This paper recycling in New Jersey company can help you get started with recycling efforts in your company. You and your employees will feel great about the difference you are making in the world when you contact this recycling company. They also handle plastic, cardboard and many other types of recyclables.
