Paper recycling is an efficient way to reduce waste and conserve resources. Almost all paper can be recycled, and the process involves sorting, removing contaminants, pulping, and molding. Recycled paper is mixed with virgin pulp to increase durability and can be recycled four to six times. Sludge is the residue of paper recycling and can be used as mulch or burned for energy.
Paper recycling is an important way to reduce the waste stream, as paper waste is generated in huge quantities every year around the world. The multi-step process recovers the maximum amount of reusable fiber from waste paper and converts it into new paper, cardboard, packaging material and other paper products. While paper recycling isn’t as spectacularly efficient as glass and metal recycling, it’s still a great way to conserve resources and help the environment.
By recycling paper, you reduce the waste of trees, water and energy as well as reduce the number of pollutants emitted by paper manufacturing plants. Recycling paper is estimated to be 40% more efficient than making paper from scratch and, if done in an environmentally sound way, can even have environmental benefits. Ways to make paper recycling even greener include using non-toxic chemicals to bleach it, alternative energy to power the factory, and reclaimed water to process the paper, rather than fresh, potable water.
Paper recycling begins with the consumer sorting the various types of paper into recycling bins. Almost all paper can be recycled, and specialist paper recycling companies collect matte, glossy, and colored papers along with cardboard. If their facilities can’t process certain paper products, they usually sell those products to other companies that can. At the paper recycling plant, paper is sorted by type and staples, paper clips and other contaminants are removed.
Afterwards, the paper is made into shredded mulch and mixed with water. The mulch is pulped through a long soak and further mixing, then the pulp can be used to make fresh paper on papermaking screens, molded into paperboard, or used to form other paper products such as recycled paper insulation . If necessary, the pulp is blanched before being molded into fresh paper, otherwise it is left smooth.
Paper is rarely 100% recycled, because the fibers shorten during paper processing. It must be mixed with virgin pulp to make the paper stronger and more durable, and most paper has a lifetime limit on its ability to recycle: In general, paper can only be recycled four to six times before it runs out. and the shortened fibers rush out of the slurry as unusable. Recycled paper has labels that indicate the percentage of recycled content to guide consumers.
The residues of paper recycling, including inks, unusable fibers and various contaminants, are called sludge. The sludge is sometimes buried in landfills, but is usually spread over crops as mulch or burned to provide energy for the paper company. Although burning sludge does emit pollution, it is sometimes seen as an environmentally friendly method of fueling a paper company and using sludge efficiently, and in a highly efficient kiln with proper filtration, pollution can be greatly reduced.
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