Paper Recycling

The following information came from www.earth911.org.
Paper is one of the most versatile and important materials used in homes, schools, offices, and businesses throughout the world. Each day we enjoy the benefits of paper products – from the newspaper we read in the morning; to the box that holds our cereal; to the paper we use for homework and business purposes; and the documents that mark the significant achievements of our lives.
Paper dates back over 2,000 years and hand-made production methods were used until the 19th century. The industrialization of the paper making process helped to bring education and books to a broad spectrum of people, and continued advances have resulted in better and more efficient products that meet our daily needs, while leaving a smaller footprint on our environment.
Why is it Important to Recycle Paper?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), approximately 35 percent of the municipal solid waste stream (MSW) is made up of paper and paperboard products. Paper makes up the largest portion of the municipal waste stream, and also one of the most recovered materials. Recycling produces numerous direct and indirect benefits:
Conserves resources
Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants
Saves energy
Supplies valuable raw materials to industry
Creates jobs
Stimulates the growth of greener technologies
Reduces the need for new landfills and incineratorsSource: U.S. EPA
According to a 2005 AF&PA Community Survey, 254 million people (86 percent of the U.S.) have access to some form of community paper/paperboard recycling, either through curbside collection or drop-off programs.
An impressive 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2006. In fact, if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling than all glass, plastic and aluminum combined. Not yet satisfied, the American Forest & Paper Association has set a goal of 55 percent recovery by the year 2012. It will take your help to get there.
How is Paper Recycled?
According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2006. This significant achievement was made possible by the millions of Americans who recycle at home, work, and school every day.
In fact if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling from municipal solid waste streams than all glass, plastic, and aluminum combined. Additional good news: every ton of paper recovered for recycling saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Paper Recycling Starts with You and Me!
Paper recycling begins with you and me! Recycling means recognizing the value of a used resource, and turning it into something new. The paper recycling process begins at any number of locations, including community curbside programs, drop-off centers, schools, or offices. Regardless of where the recycling process starts, it is important to understand what materials can be recovered in your community, and how to properly prepare them for recycling.
To find out what recycling programs are available in your area and the types of paper accepted, use the green recycling center locator box at the top of the page.
How Is Paper Recycled Once Collected?
After it is collected, recovered paper is transferred to a recycling center or Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is sorted into its different grades and “contaminants” such as trash, glass, plastics, and metals are removed. Once the recovered paper is properly sorted and free of contaminants, it is compacted into large bales and transported to a paper mill where the recycling process begins.
To begin the papermaking process using recovered fiber, the fiber is shredded and mixed with water to make a pulp. The pulp is washed, refined and cleaned, then turned to slush in a beater. The process of papermaking from that point forward is essentially the same whether or not recovered fiber is used.
For a visual walk-thru of the process, click here.
Additional paper making and recycling links:
Paperrecycles.org
EPA
Forest Products Management Development Institute
Project Learning Tree
Can Paper Continue To Be Recycled?
Each time paper is recycled, the fiber length decreases, which impacts its strength. It is estimated that paper has approximately seven generations, meaning it can be recycled up to seven times.
Because paper is made from a renewable resource, introducing new, or “virgin” fiber into the process is a logical answer. Today approximately 80 percent of the nation’s paper mills use some recovered fiber in the production of new paper and paperboard products.
Further, the U.S. forest products industry plants an average of 1.7 million trees every day - five new trees for every tree harvested. Thanks to the responsible forestry practices of U.S. companies, the amount of standing timber in U.S. forests has increased by nearly 40 percent over the past half-century, and by 10 million acres since 1990.