Paper Recycling Process

Recycling Process
Fiber recycling is a specialized process in

which office wastepaper is used to produce
Corporate Headquarters: clean, recycled pulp that can be used to
The Paper Tigers, Inc. make recycled content paper and
2201 Waukegan Road, Suite 270 paperboards.
Bannockburn, Illinois 60015 Wastepaper from office, school and business

Phone: (847) 919-6500 recycling programs is collected by outside
Toll-Free: (800) 621-1774 waste-management companies that sort the
Fax: (847) 919-6501 waste and then sell it in bales to the mill.
Email: [email protected]
The wastepaper is mixed with water and
chemicals, and reduced to pulp slurry in a
giant blender called a pulper.
Following pulping, the pulp mix is diluted
with water and passes through a system of
centrifugal cleaning equipment and screens.
This is done to remove large contaminants
like wood, plastic, rocks, glass and paper
clips, along with small contaminants like
string, glue and other sticky materials.
The pulp is pressed to remove water and
dissolved inks, and is then fed into a
kneading machine. During kneading, the
pulp fibers are rubbed against each other,
further loosening the inks, while kneading
chemicals are added to begin the
brightening process. Brightening the pulp
counters any yellowing affect sometimes
seen in paper containing wood fibers like
those used for newspaper. The fibers soak in
chemicals for about three hours in a storage
chest. The pulp that went into the
brightening process gray and dirty in
appearance comes out much whiter and
cleaner.
The fibers are then sent through a fine
screening process that removes any
remaining glue particles and small
contaminants.
The pulp goes through an ink removal

process. Here the pulp is mixed with
chemicals, called surfactants, that suds up
like washing machine soap. Ink particles,
dirt, glues and other very small
contaminants adhere to the suds and float to
the surface where they are skimmed away
leaving the pulp even cleaner.
The pulp is then washed, pressed, kneaded
and placed in the decolorization chest. A
chemical is added to remove any colors that
might tint the pulp.
The pulp is then washed again to remove
any remaining ink particles, fillers or other
contaminants.
The finished recycled pulp is then either sent
to a mill for papermaking or it is formed into
sheets of pulp, called "wet lap," for shipment
and sale.
Recycling Process
Fiber recycling is a specialized process in which office wastepaper is used to produce clean,
recycled pulp that can be used to make recycled content paper and paperboards.
Wastepaper from office, school and business recycling programs is collected by outside waste-
management companies that sort the waste and then sell it in bales to the mill.
The wastepaper is mixed with water and chemicals, and reduced to pulp slurry in a giant blender
called a pulper.
Following pulping, the pulp mix is diluted with water and passes through a system of centrifugal
cleaning equipment and screens. This is done to remove large contaminants like wood, plastic,
rocks, glass and paper clips, along with small contaminants like string, glue and other sticky
materials.
The pulp is pressed to remove water and dissolved inks, and is then fed into a kneading
machine. During kneading, the pulp fibers are rubbed against each other, further loosening the
inks, while kneading chemicals are added to begin the brightening process. Brightening the pulp
counters any yellowing affect sometimes seen in paper containing wood fibers like those used
for newspaper. The fibers soak in chemicals for about three hours in a storage chest. The pulp
that went into the brightening process gray and dirty in appearance comes out much whiter and
cleaner.
The fibers are then sent through a fine screening process that removes any remaining glue
particles and small contaminants.
The pulp goes through an ink removal process. Here the pulp is mixed with chemicals, called
surfactants, that suds up like washing machine soap. Ink particles, dirt, glues and other very
small contaminants adhere to the suds and float to the surface where they are skimmed away
leaving the pulp even cleaner.
The pulp is then washed, pressed, kneaded and placed in the decolorization chest. A chemical is
added to remove any colors that might tint the pulp.
The pulp is then washed again to remove any remaining ink particles, fillers or other
contaminants.
The finished recycled pulp is then either sent to a mill for papermaking or it is formed into
sheets of pulp, called "wet lap," for shipment and sale.
Recycling Basics
Everyone should recycle as much of their waste as possible to prevent reusable materials being
buried in land fill waste sites. Recycling does not cost anything, takes only a little extra time, and
can make an amazing difference to the world.
In many regions recyling boxes are not provided which people can use to collect recyclable
materials for collection at the same time as their domestic waste. Where that is not the case
recycling banks are always close by and waiting for your waste. Simply keep a couple of plastic
boxes next to your waste bin and decide if whatever you plan on throwing away can be recycled.
If it can, put it in the right box.
Below is a schematic of how the paper recyling process works from the Confederation of Paper
Industries:
Start off by looking at the materials you are currently throwing away:
Organic matter and garden waste should be going on your compost heap, or at least be saved for
a gardener in your family or group of friends.
Paper and cardboard make up the majority of domestic waste and can, in the most part, be
recycled. Most supermarkets have recycling stations where old newspapers and cardboard boxes
can be deposited for recycling so just drop them off before you go shopping. According to
Friends of the Earth, one million tonnes of newspapers alone are thrown away each year in the
UK! Paper is biodegradable and very easy to recycle and so the used of recyled paper saves on
the costs (economic and environmental) of cutting down trees, and also the costs of importing
and transporting.
Glass bottles and jars can be saved for a similar fate. Simply rinse them out and store them
ready to drop off at the recycling station. Kids love hearing the sound of smashing glass so get
them involved too!
Most plastic bottles and packaging can be recycled. They need to be sorted, but usually all
plastics can be put into a plastic recycling bank and the complex sorting process if done for you.
Finally tin cans and aluminium drinks cans can be rinsed, squashed, and saved for recyling at
your recycling bank.
That pretty much covers everything we throw away each week. Books, clothes and anything else
of value should be given to charity shops where they can make money for their causes at the
same time as giving someone else the chance to reuse your things, or sell them on eBay to make
yourself money. (Reuse is always better than recycling since no energy is wasted in processing.)
Old computers, batteries, televisions, washing machines etc contain many recyclable items and
often materials which are harmful to the environment. These should be taken to your local
council tip for correct processing or to a recycler.

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Paper Recycling Process

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Recycling Process

Fiber recycling is a specialized process in

Bannockburn, Illinois 60015 Wastepaper from office, school and business

The pulp goes through an ink removal

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