Contrary to conventional wisdom, the 350 million pounds of paper thrown out each day by Americans and an unknown tonnage worldwide does not break down and disappear in landfills even under tons of garbage for years. Newspapers unearthed in landfills after being buried for over 35 years were as readable as on the day they were published.

The problem with recycling newsprint, in particular, is the tremendous oversupply. “The inventory of waste newspaper is at an all-time record high,” said a spokesman for the American Paper Institute. “Mills and paper dealers have in their warehouses over one million tons of newspapers, which represents a third of a year’s production. There comes a point when the warehouse space will be completely filled.” As a consequence of this paper glut, many cities that were getting $40 a ton for their paper a year ago are now paying contractors $25 a ton to haul it away​—to be burned or dumped in landfills.