Two thoughts:
1) Speaking with a friend in the paper business, he was disappointed that the doubled transportation costs are never included when calculating the “benefits” of recycling. And he was pleased by the fact that we have made trees in the US one of THE most heavily-renewed resources! Add that to the fact that paper degrades quickly in landfills – we should focus more effort on those hard clear plastic shells that so many products are now sold in.

2) So we save energy by recycling, turning off lights, etc. Here’s my concern – NEVER in the history of economics (supply and demand) has using LESS of something brought about better or cheaper products. Only by stressing the supply and causing shortages (and higher prices) do we motivate scientists and entrepreneurs to bring alternatives to the market.

In general it is more relevant to focus on emissions than energy use alone. Using energy doesn’t wreck the planet, but excessive GHG emissions might. Using too much energy might be an economic problem, but since that should be reflected in the price of the recycled paper the market should take care of it. Unless the taxpayers are getting mulcted to make up the difference.

Also when considering the cost of recovering post-consumer paper for recycling you can only count the transportation emissions in excess of those that would have been caused anyway by hauling it to a landfill.

Waste paper could be composted, but the GHG balance of composting is a complicated problem in itself. And if all the waste paper now sent for recycling went into the composting stream instead, the value of finished compost might be driven down well below zero.

In general it is more relevant to focus on emissions than energy use alone. Using energy doesn’t wreck the planet, but excessive GHG emissions might. Using too much energy might be an economic problem, but since that should be reflected in the price of the recycled paper the market should take care of it. Unless the taxpayers are getting mulcted to make up the difference.

Also when considering the cost of recovering post-consumer paper for recycling you can only count the transportation emissions in excess of those that would have been caused anyway by hauling it to a landfill.

Waste paper could be composted, but the GHG balance of composting is a complicated problem in itself. And if all the waste paper now sent for recycling went into the composting stream instead, the value of finished compost might be driven down well below zero.