The why and How of Paper Recycling

Why Do We Recycle Paper?
Because it has been known for many years that, having done its job once, it can be used yet again as reclaimed fibre to make new materials for the market place. Long before the ENVIRONMENT became an issue, paper was being recovered for re-use.

How is Waste Paper Collected?
The waste paper is collected by a network of dedicated processors whose job it is to COLLECT, SORT and BALE the waste paper that arises in HOMES, FACTORIES, SHOPS and OFFICES.

Why Do We Clean Waste Paper?
The incoming waste paper is transferred by conveyor belts onto SORTING TABLES where operators manually out sort material not suitable for REPULPING, such as STRING, PLASTICS, PAPER CLIPS, WAXED PAPER, PAPER WITH NON-SOLUBLE GLUES, etc. The out sorted material then goes to the LANDFILL TIP.

Why Do We Sort Waste Paper?
Manufacturing mills that will use waste paper require certain qualities and grades of waste paper that have been found to be suitable for manufacturing their particular product. There are over 50grades of waste paper divided into 11 groups. The groups cover material that can be used for RECYCLED NEWSPRINT, TISSUES AND INDUSTRIAL WIPES, STATIONERY AND PACKAGING.

How Do We Sort Waste Paper?
CLEAN waste paper is sorted into 11 groups according to which type of fibre it contains and then passes down CHUTES to be collected in large bins. When full these large bins are taken to another CONVEYOR and the contents pass into a BALING PRESS.

Why Do We Bale Waste Paper?
Waste paper, after CLEANING and SORTING into GRADES, goes into a BALING PRESS which can produce BALES weighing 0.5 tonne or more. For ease of subsequent handling, FORK LIFT and BALE CLAMP TRUCKS are used to move the bales into storage or onto a lorry for shipment to a mill.

Waste Paper Recovery

The Facts
The British Recovered Paper Association was formed in January 1997 from the former British Waste Paper Association when it was realized that, in order to recognize the changing face of waste and recycling of paper, a broader title was required. The Association represents the UK waste paper recovery and processing industry both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Waste paper processors collect waste paper and produce a recyclable raw material for the paper and board mills and other manufacturing industries, including building and insulation materials manufacturers.

The material used originates from newsprint houses, printers, factories, supermarkets, offices, domestic sources, local authorities, voluntary organizations and charities.

Once collected, the material is cleaned, sorted into grades, and press packed into bales. Material that is injurious to the repulping process, such as metal, glass, string, plastics, wax and bitumen coated papers, and some adhesives must be removed by the waste paper processor before baling takes place. This adds to the costs. The mills have quality assessment of incoming raw material and any non-pulpable inclusions would involve the rejection of the material. Your merchants would advise you further of any items to be excluded.

Development of new technology by the mill industry continues to increase demand for greater supplies of clean waste paper. One should note that waste paper is a commodity internationally traded and subject to market conditions.

Oversupply creates low market prices and waste paper, with nowher to go, is a disincentive to all those charities and voluntary groups that collect it.

It is worth noting that of the 6.5 million tones of paper and board manufactured in the UK in 1998,4.7 million tones was raw material supplied by waste paper merchants. The trend towards the use of reclaimed fibre is expected to continue with the result that less virgin pulp will be required. It should also be noted that the second largest import bill of the United Kingdom is imported paper and board.

Reclaimed paper fibres can be used in the manufacture of packaging, newsprint, tissues, office and personal stationery, computer stationery, educational and photocopy paper.

Markets for these products could grow in the foreseeable future due to increased use of recycled paper in schools, offices and, nearer home, your daily newspaper.

Your local waste paper merchant will be happy to advise you regarding any aspects of your collection.