Paper has been a recycled product from the very beginning, and it is the most easily recycled commodity. For the first 1,800 years or so that paper existed, it was always made from discarded materials. Recycling paper conserves natural resources, saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and keeps landfill space free for other types of trash that can't be recycled. Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,000 kilowatts of energy — enough to power the average any home for 6-7months — and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE).