How is Paper Recycled?
A paper bin that is put out for recycling usually includes a number of different types of paper – possibly including old newspapers, cardboard sheets and used white paper. Other things mixed with the paper like staples, sticky tape, glue, plastic, metal clips and food must be taken out before the paper is recycled. Unsorted paper can be used for packaging, while using recycled paper for newspaper requires sorting into different types by hand. The better quality paper collected, the higher the quality of the recycled paper that is produced. Following sorting, recycled paper is baled into 1 tonne blocks of paper and taken by truck to the paper mill. At the mill, the waste paper is mixed with water in a machine like a washing machine. Objects such as staples and plastic binders are removed and go to the rubbish tip. In this process, between 10% and 30% of the waste paper’s volume will be lost because the paper is made up of fillers and other materials like clay that are absorbed in water.
