The same paper cannot be recycled indefinitely, over and over again. Paper is one of the materials that suffers the most from deterioration during recycling, since each time its cellulose fiber reduces its consistency and becomes smaller and smaller. Too complicated? To put it simply, its structure changes each time it is recycled, making it more difficult to recover, for this reason A paper can be recycled between 6 and 7 times without losing its quality. So if you think it's not worth the cost of recycling it, you can also think about the fact that 17 trees can be saved by recycling one ton of paper, that's crazy!
“17 trees can be saved by recycling one ton of paper”
But then why can't I recycle the letters from my ex that I tore up? Simply because they might not be recycled. Crumpled and slightly altered paper is recyclable, but torn paper is not. Why? Because pieces of paper that are that small can either jam machines or contaminate bales of other materials. Did you know that this is why organizations European and North American paper recyclers ask that the paper shredders are not used only for confidential documents ?
What to do with torn paper?
So what do you do if you can't hold back your anger and end up tearing up those papers? If you're moving and want to keep your travel memories in pristine condition, this is where you can use the paper you tore up! Small pieces of paper are a great packaging material, especially for fragile objects. But its uses don't stop there, if you want your garden to look much more alive, you can create your own compost with your organic waste, to which you can add these little pieces of paper. In any case, remember and repeat: it's not the letter's fault!
