Why Recycling is Important During a Pandemic


Recycling is always important to preserve resources, but it is especially important during a pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been high demand for necessary supplies and just about everything is shipped in a paper box from vital medical supplies to everyday items you buy at the grocery store.

Without recycling, it’s hard for paper and cardboard manufacturers to keep up with the needs of the health care and grocery industries. It is also why recycling paper products and cardboard boxes has become even more critical to ensure there’s enough paper to support a variety of manufacturers in the supply chain.

Q. Do people know the importance of recycling?

A recent survey by the Carton Council of North America found that most consumers don’t relate recycling to making new paper products, and 18% didn’t think recycling had any impact on alleviating paper shortages. It’s a troubling statistic, because recycling is an important part of preserving valuable resources and supporting a circular economy to get the most out of existing materials.

Q. What can I do to help?

We’re pretty sure no one wants another toilet paper shortage. So, it’s vital for everyone to recycle paper-based packaging to help meet the demand for products like toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. If recyclable paper products are tossed in the trash, it’s a missed opportunity that puts strain on our natural resources. Keep recycling your paper products now and always. Just remember that dirty and wet paper is not recyclable so keep it clean and dry. To learn more about recycling paper products and other materials, visit RecyclingSimplified.com.