Paper Recycling Program Results Shared

Saucon Valley residents are passionate about recycling paper, according to newly released statistics from the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society, which orchestrates at various drop-off points throughout Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township.

In an annual report from , which was recently shared by Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline, it was revealed that 1,600 tons of paper have been recycled at local Abitibi bins since 2007, when the program began as a society fundraising effort.

That tonnage is equivalent to 3,199,940 pounds of paper (or the weight of 267 elephants), and according to the report it means that countless trees have been saved over the past five years.

In fact, since it is calculated that one tree is saved for each ton of paper that's recycled, the recycling of 1,600 tons of paper would seem to indicate that Saucon Valley residents have helped to preserve a small forest somewhere.

Recycling one ton of paper can also save three cubic yards of space in a landfill; conserve 4,102 kilowatt hours of electricity; prevent 60 pounds of pollution from entering the air; and conserve 7,000 gallons of water, according to the report.

Abitibi drop-off bins can be found at , , the campus and other locations in the area.

The following data related to the recycling of 1,600 tons of paper was also part of the report:

* The paper recycled by local residents has saved 4,800 gallons of oil, which is enough to fill more than half a tanker truck.

* The recycling of 1,600 tons of paper spared more than 11 million gallons of water from being used in the paper manufacturing process. That is enough water to fill 22 Olympic-size swimming pools.

* Recycling that much paper has saved 4,800 cubic yards of space in landfills.