Waste Paper Recycling in the 21st Century

Every year, Americans use more than 100 million tons of paper. By recycling, the amount of paper made from new pulp will be reduced. Since most paper is made from trees, water and chemicals, the amount of raw materials used in recycled paper is lower.

Recycle paper

This creates a lesser impact on the environment. For example, 1 ton of recycled paper spares about 17 trees. There are several steps followed to create recycled paper.

SEPERATION

Recycling paper always begins by removing it from the waste stream. When you are finished with it, do not throw it away. Store it in a recycling bin or special container reserved for paper.

PICK-UP

Once a large amount of paper has been gathered, bring it to the local recycling center or set it out for your curbside recycling program pick-up.

SORTING

The paper is then picked up or collected by the recycling center. Once it has reached the plant, the paper is sorted into different types, such as newsprint, white paper and colored paper, then graded to a specification. During this process, all extra materials, like bits of glass and metal staples, are removed from the paper. It is baled, then sent to a paper mill.

PULPING

The paper is soaked in water. Chemicals are added to assist with breakdown into single soft fibers. This very wet mixture is called pulp slurry.

FILTERING

The pulp is then repeatedly filtered and cleaned to remove ink, glue and slick paper finishes. This mixture is then put in a floatation tank to remove more ink. Water is drained from the slurry.

WHITENING

More liquid and chemicals are added, such as hydrogen peroxide. This whitens the pulp to make it more usable.

SPRAYING

The pulp slurry mixture is then pumped and sprayed onto a large machine where it is dried into sheets and spun into rolls.

CUTTING

The rolls of recycled paper are then re-rolled, cut and labeled as needed.

DISTRIBUTION

The recycled paper rolls are sent to printers or manufacturers of other products. They are then bought by consumers, who recycle the paper and begin the entire process again. Most paper can be recycled about eight times.