It is estimated that 40-60 million vinyl 3-ring binders are sold in the US every year.  That is a lot of binders, and a lot of vinyl.  Assume that each binder weighs 1 pound. For ease of numbers lets assume the vinyl accounts for 1/8 of that. 

Of the 40-60 million pounds of waste these binders create (created to be disposable, they just don't last), that leaves about 5-7 million pounds of vinyl, something that will not break down in nature. Luckily, we are informed it is recyclable otherwise we would have one big and growing problem.

non) Recycling

The multitudes of additives required to make PVC useful make large scale post consumer recycling nearly impossible for most products and interfere with the recycling of other plastics. Of an estimated 7 billion pounds of PVC thrown away in the US, only 14 million - less than 1/2 of 1 percent - is recycled. The Association of Post Consumer Plastics Recyclers declared efforts to recycle PVC a failure and labeled it a contaminant in 1998.

Although vinyl is in theory recyclable, there are currently no vinyl recycling programs available.  The vast majority of PVCs end up in landfill or incinerated - and both are environmentally hazardous. Currently 0.1% to 3% of vinyl is recycled (mostly industrial waste) of the PVC that is discarded in the US every year.

Oops. Well hopefully it won't burn because that would release a lot of toxic fumes...

Fire dangers

PVC poses a great risk in building fires, as it releases deadly gases long before it ignites, such as hydrogen chloride which turns to hydrochloric acid when inhaled. As it burns, whether accidentally or in waste incineration, it releases yet more toxic dioxins. PVC burning in landfill fires may now be the single largest source of dioxin releases to the environment. If you see the former entry about recycling, with the approximately 8400 landfill fires every year in the US, this is an issue.

All of a sudden the price you are really paying for that $4 binder is pretty high in municipal costs, fire-fighters and health care for those affected by the fumes, creation and wastes of the industry.

You have options.  Naked Binder is one of those options. Naked Binder offers a series of 100% post-consumer waste binders board, eco friendly 3-ring binders that last for years (buy less) and are fully recyclable (no landfill). We use no toxins, no vinyl and no plastics.  You can have a healthier office and environment, not to mention a much better working and looking 3-ring binder.  

Don't settle for a cheap binder that costs you a lot in other ways, save money and have a recycled and recyclable 3-ring binder that is also the strongest 3-ring binder on the planet.