Processing Essay: The Process Of Paper Recycling

Paper Recycling

Paper recycling is the process of mixing used paper with water and chemicals to break it down. This mixture is then chopped up and heated to breaks it down further into strands of cellulose called pulp or slurry. It then strained through screens which remove any glue or plastic that may still be in the mixture. Finally it is cleaned, de-inked, bleached, mixed with water and then it can be made into new recycled paper.

Types of Paper

3 categories of paper which are used for making recycled paper:

- Mill broke

- Pre-consumer waste

- Post-consumer waste.

Mill broke is recycled internally in a paper mill. It is paper trimmings and other paper scrap from the manufacture of paper.

Pre-consumer waste is material which left the paper mill but was discarded before it was ready for consumer use.

Post-consumer waste is material discarded after consumer use such as old

• Paper recycling saves 65% of the energy needed to make new.

• Recycling paper also reduces air pollution by 74% and water pollution by 35%.

• Recycled material was used to make world’s first piece of paper.

• Paper recycling is as old as paper itself.

• A typical newsprint machine produces as many as 500 tons of paper every day.

Benefits of Paper Recycling

• Paper recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change by avoiding methane emissions and reducing energy required for a number of paper products.

• Extends the fiber supply

• Contributes to carbon sequestration.

• Saves considerable landfill space.

• Reduces energy and water consumption.

• Decreases the need for disposal (i.e., landfill or incineration which decreases the amount of CO2 produced).

Paper Cycling and Impact on Environment

Water and Air