Is it true that it is more expensive and worse for the environment to recycle paper than cut down trees?

Question

I want to know why recycled paper is more expensive than that made from trees. It does not make sense that it would be cheaper to plant trees, wait for them to grow, water, etc, cut down, transport, and manufacture, that collect, sort and process recycled paper

Answer 1

I think recycled paper is on average more expensive because it is produced less and bought less. Generally things are only as cheap as they are because huge production processes are streamlined for one way of operation only. If you want to produce recycled paper you have to set up a new process for this, which the product has to pay for. As it's not bought as much it's the production cost per sheet is probably higher as it may not make sense to run the plant at maximum capacity.

Answer 2

OBVIOUSLY if recycling was cheaper everybody would buy it.

=]]]]] SMILE!

Answer 3

By using economic modeling, recycling is shown to have VERY high direct and indirect costs- I heard this in grad school at a lecture by a resource economist, but I can't recall the details. I was dozing at the time.

Answer 4

i wouldnt think so cause trees will later on be more essential to all of us and if recylcled paper is more expensive its probably because of other methods used like transportation whic requires gas and maybe thats why it raises the price a bit.

Answer 5

That is something that was never on topic I heard. A lot of people say recycle... right? Maybe it takes a lot of processes to recycle but faster than growing trees because i think they use big trees? those old old ones.... and trees don't grow fast... recycled paper's not the best to tell you though  in my opinion. there's recycled benches too! made out of trash bags  :)

Answer 6

I too would love to see proof on that as well.... Like you, I question about that too....