The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) celebrates Earth Day 2022 by emphasizing our corporate commitment to waste reduction and recycling. Nearly everything in our trash containers can be recycled, which protects the environment and makes good business sense. Last year, our organization saved over $14 million in landfill disposal costs by recycling.
The Postal Service™ generates large quantities of recyclables, including paper (primarily undeliverable marketing mail), cardboard, plastics, and other materials. Last year, the Postal Service recycled over 176,000 tons of undeliverable mail, which is equivalent to recycling over a half-million wire containers of undeliverable mail.
The Postal Service can recycle at this volume by using backhaul recycling. Backhaul recycling works by returning undeliverable mail generated by our delivery units to their servicing hub where it is consolidated to generate revenue. More than 18,000 facilities currently participate in backhaul recycling.
In honor of Earth Day, here are a few more of our recycling initiatives:
n USPS recycles plastic wrap. We receive packages and mail wrapped in plastic wrap every day, which presents another great opportunity for recycling. In 2021, USPS recycled more than 4,700 tons of plastic wrap. This saved more than 3.2 million gallons of oil from being used to manufacture new plastic wrap.
n USPS has a vast network to recover and recycle electronic waste. Our cell phones, computers, printers, monitors, and other electronics, including batteries, eventually reach their end of life. In 2021, USPS recycled more than 895 tons of electronic waste, which is equivalent to recycling over 350,000 postal laptop computers.
n USPS reduces cardboard box purchases and promotes reuse of current stock. USPS is rolling out the FY 22 HQ Get-It-Right initiative to field personnel to “get back to basics” and reuse cardboard — the goal is to significantly reduce cardboard spend. In 2021, USPS recycled more than 78,000 tons of cardboard, which is equivalent to recycling over 15 million cardboard boxes in a single year. Driving more efficient handling of cardboard stock not only reduces cardboard costs, but also drives recycling revenue.
For more information about USPS recycling opportunities and our other green practices, visit blue.usps.gov/sustainability and about.usps.com/what/corporate-social-responsibility/sustainability.
— Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability,
Corporate Affairs, 4-7-22
