Paper Recycling Process

The process of recycling paper helps in conservation of natural resources. Why is it important? Facts state that for approximately one ton of paper recycled, you save nearly 350 gallons of oil and save energy required for heating purposes for 1 house for approximately 5 months. Every 1 ton of paper recycled will save nearly 15 trees and water equivalent to 5000 gallons. Thus, recycling plays a key role in preventing deforestation. Benefits also include saving the land which goes waste due to dumping of paper garbage.

Methods

For recycling, you should keep the paper away from adulterants such as metal and plastic trash and food, since the process requires clean paper. If you can not recycle paper, it is advised that you should burn it for energy or dispose the used paper at the landfill site. Recycling of paper helps to lower the emissions, thus reducing water pollution and air pollution.

1: Before the paper is taken to the recycling center, it has to be sorted out according to the type of paper and grade, such as corrugated containers or newspapers. The center or dealer guides you on sorting the paper. After you take the paper to the center, it is tightly bundled and then sent to the paper mill, where it will be stocked in the warehouse for further use. The paper will be transported to conveyors with the use of forklifts. The conveyor dumps the paper into a pulper, which is a machine used to remove pulp from the paper. The pulper contains chemicals and water and it breaks down the paper into small pieces.

2: The mixture of paper along with chemicals and water is heated for breaking down into cellulosic material called fibers, which is defined as pulp. The pulp is then screened to remove adulterants such as metal bits components or plastic waste. For this operation, screens with holes of various shapes and sizes are used. The pulp is then spun into large cylindrical cone shaped containers, wherein large particles of contaminants are thrown out due to the spinning action, out of the container and small particles, if any, will be collected at the center of the container.

3: The next, comes the process of deinking for removing printing ink and adhesive or glue deposits left in the pulp. Sometimes, deinking can be combination of two processes, such as, flotation and washing. Heavy particles are taken off through air bubbles, which is called floating and small deposits are removed by rinsing with water called washing. During floating, pulp is mixed with air and surfactants into flotation cell, where ink and sticky deposits detach from the pulp and float on the top of the mixture with air bubbles. The foam created due to sticky and contaminated air bubbles is separated, thus leaving clean pulp in the container.

4: Next comes the process of refining, where the process of beating the pulp takes place to make the fibers inflate. This process will also separate large chunks of fibers into small individual fiber particles. Chemicals for removal of coloring material on the paper are added for getting the dye off the pulp. The next step is decided based upon which type of paper is being made from the process. For instance, if you are recycling brown paper, you do not need to bleach it, however, if you are recycling white paper, you will need to bleach the pulp with hydrogen peroxide or oxygen for giving a bright, white look to the paper.

5: The next step is paper making. Recycled pulp can be used alone or you can blend it with other pulp such as wood pulp, banana pulp or bamboo pulp to increase the physical properties and toughness along with the bonding properties. The pulp is mixed with water and chemicals and this mixture is passed on to the headbox, from where it is sprayed onto a flat wire screen in the form of a continuous stream. The screen separates water particles by draining and the remaining pulp fibers adhere to form a continuous watery stretch. The remaining water is removed through rollers by pressing the watery stretch. For giving a gloss to the paper, you can add a coating material. The finished paper is then rolled into bundles and taken to warehouse for storage and then converted into different shapes such as envelopes and loose pages.

You can contribute to the process of paper recycling by taking used paper to your nearest dealer or recycling center.