Evaluation of Economic and Environmental Aspects of Paper and Paperboard Recycling from Municipal Solid Wastes of Isfahan City

Background: In the recent years, the problem of increased amount of municipal solid wastes
such as paper and paperboard and also unsafe disposal of them, cause damage to living
environment. Without implementing a good recycling process, wasting of national capital and
destroying of natural resources will ensue. Regarding the importance of recycling, we evaluated the
economic and environmental aspects of paper and paperboard recycling of municipal solid wastes
in Isfahan city.
Materials and Methods: It was a cross sectional- descriptive study that was done in 2006. The
required data was achieved by field observations, library studies, interview with head of recycling
organization, studying archived documents in that organization and finally analyzing them.
Results: From 24,864 tones paper and paperboard used in year 2006 in Isfahan city, only
15.39% were recycled and the rest of them (84.61%) which was mixed with wet solid waste were
thrown away. The economic and environmental advantages of 15.39% recycling paper and
paperboard in Isfahan city in year 2006 were saving 689,011 cubic meter water, saving 30,623
gigajoule energy and prevention of cutting 65,061 trees. The income from selling recycled paper
and paperboard in monitored year was about 1,951,841,000 Rials.
Conclusion: Paper and paperboard recycling from Isfahan municipal solid wastes has economic
and environmental justification.