Economist Steven Landsburg argues reducing demand for ‘new’ paper reduces demand for trees, giving paper companies less incentive to plant trees. So I read.
It is my impression “not all” modern Teshuva writers understand economic logic when discussing matters like these, so they believe in self-interested propaganda which encourages the “holy obligation” in some circles of (certain kinds of) recycling or conservation.
But as far as I can tell, if recycling was needed, or there was “Peak” anything, there would be higher incentives attached by the market.