Actually, recycling paper is worse for the environment than tossing it.
The harsh chemicals required to dissolve the inks and dyes, and then break down paper to pulp are more detrimental to the environment than the paper itself. Recycling paper to make pulp actually consumes more fossil fuels than making new pulp, because the paper, has to be broken down, additives from it previous live dissolved, extracted and disposed of.. etc etc.
Actually, recycling in general, with the exception of aluminum, is a wash in terms of environmental impact. The energy and processing required to recycle (extra bins, vehicles, equipment, machinery, facilities.. etc etc) pretty much makes recycling just as harmful to the environment as disposable when You look at the big picture.
I'm an avid outdoors-man, I hate littering, Ive been a nature nut since I was eight years old. But if you can get past the feel good self righteousness of recycling and actually look at the processes, it doesn't take much research to see that its not that great. Of course there is always the Prius driver look down your nose at everyone else ego boost that comes from it, which I would guess is the biggest driver of what is generally a misguided venture.
EDIT:
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-au ... nvironmentThis is a pretty good study by discover magazine about plastic recycling.