Facts and statistics About 100 million tonnes of waste a year is landfilled in the UK. The landfill sites for the South East of England will be at full capacity by 2005.1

•A staggering 97% of the graphics paper and pulp used in the UK is imported. Only 5% of which has any recycled content.2

•There are 2.2 million tonnes of waste graphics paper available for recycling in the UK annually.3

•Office paper is the highest quality paper and can be recycled 5-6 times.4

•A report published by WWF in 2000 stated that most of the wood consumed in Indonesia’s paper mills is derived from clear cutting ancient wildlife rich forest.5 As recently as June 2003, Friends of the Earth named and shamed UK paper merchants who are still importing paper from these sources.6

1. Environment Agency facts and figures, Sept 2003
2, 3 4 & 5. BioRegional Solutions,
by P. Desai & S. Riddlestone
6. Friends of the Earth website, Press release June 25th 2003

Last updated 18th September 2007