Paper recycling is the process of converting waste paper into new useable paper. Recycling paper takes half the energy needed to produce new paper. Most trash consists of paper in one form or another. Every 100 pounds of trash contains 35 pounds of paper.
Paper is usually made from trees but cloth and grass can be used to make paper as well. Many paper companies plant trees solely for the purpose of making paper. Once a tree is cut down to be processed into paper, another tree is planted in its place. The entire tree is used in one way or another. The bulk of the tree is chopped into small chips that are eventually turned into paper. Once these chips are processed into paper, bleach is added to make higher quality white paper. The bark and roots of the tree are used for energy in the paper mill.
Recycling takes waste paper and mixes it with fresh wood pulp to create new paper. Unlike aluminum cans, which can be recycled over and over again, paper can only be recycled 5 to 6 times. The fibers of the paper become too weak over time to reuse. Mixing in fresh wood pulp strengthens the recycled paper, making it more durable.
The benefits of recycling paper are less waste in landfills, less pollution in the environment from the manufacturing processes and less disruption of nature. The disruption of nature, however, is not always considered to be a strong reason to recycle because many trees are planted and replanted solely for the purpose of making paper. The benefit of less paper in the landfills is due to the biodegradable nature of paper. When paper rots in the landfill, it creates methane, which contributes to global warming. Recycling services are usually cheaper than traditional trash pickup. Also, less energy is used in recycling, although the energy savings are not as large as they are in recycling other types of materials such as aluminum or steel.
The most commonly recycled types of paper that are recycled are plain white paper, newspaper, cardboard, construction paper, and magazines. Some types of paper are not ideal for recycling. Gift wrap is one type. Paper coated with materials such as aluminum foil or plastic is also not ideal. The processing of these types of paper is too expensive to warrant recycling. It is also necessary to separate different types of paper prior to recycling. High paper grades are separated from low grades. Cardboard, newspaper, and magazines are examples of low grade paper. White and colored office paper are considered to be high grade.
In some areas a curbside pickup can be scheduled for recycling paper. It is important to keep the paper dry, therefore placing outside on rainy days is discouraged. There may be local drop off areas as well. Many offices have recycling bins readily available as paper is largely used in offices. Supermarkets and civic centers may also have paper recycling bins readily available. It may also be useful to cut down on paper usage in general by using computers or email to electronically handle communication and documentation.
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