Recycling of Paper

Recycling is defined as a process of converting the non-useful and waste products into new products that are useful for humans in general.  Recycling is a great option for saving energy and for conserving the environment as recycling uses much less resources than producing new goods, and thus it is a cost-efficient and eco friendly system.

Recycling is an essential step as the waste that is generated and cannot be degraded by the environment gets converted into something useful and good. Recycling helps in treating waste material and using it to make new products. As recycling helps in getting rid of the waste and non-useful material, it also helps in monitoring air, water, and land pollution alike as the waste is getting recycled, and it is not getting piled up or thrown away in the natural resources.  

Image will be uploaded soon

Recycling of Paper

As we know that we use paper in each and every part of the work, and at every stage of life, thus paper can be considered as the most used material in the world. Even though technology is gradually replacing paper, it cannot replace the paper entirely so soon. Also, the demand for books and paper is increasing rapidly. Around 400 million metric tons of paper and its products are generated every year. Paper comes from the trees, and the most common trees from where the wood pulp and fibres are extracted to make paper are bamboo, jute, cotton, hemp, and some other plants.  

Steps of Recycling Paper 

Paper constitutes about 50% of the solid wastes. Many recycling factories have been set up to recycle papers and make various useful paper products in order to meet the need for papers while also protecting the environment.The only materials that can be easily recycled by the reprocessing of waste paper for reuse are papers.

Let's take a look at the various steps involved in paper recycling.

• Step-1: The paper from the recycling bins and garbage is collected and placed in large recycling containers where the other contaminants like glass, plastic, and other trash are removed.

• Step-2: The paper waste, from the recycling containers, is separated into types and grades at a recycling factory

• Step-3: To remove stains of inks, plastic film, staples, and glue, the segregated paper wastes are washed in soapy water.

• Step-4: The washed papers are then placed in a big container with water and allowed to mix with the water to form a slurry.

• Step-5: Different materials are added to the slurry to make new paper products, such as white paper, cardboard, newspaper, and so on.

• Step-6: To make large thin sheets of paper, the produced slurry is transported or spread into large rollers.

• Step-7: The papers are then allowed to dry before being rolled up, wrapped, and transported.

Advantages of Recycling Paper

• Recycling paper saves energy and also helps in conserving the environment.

• The recycling of paper also helps in reducing air, water, and land pollution as the emissions of harmful gasses like methane are not a part of the recycling process, and thus the earth’s atmosphere is saved from being polluted more.

• The recycling of paper also helps in decomposing the biodegradable wastes and the hazardous wastes and converting them into useful products.

Summary

Paper recycling refers to the decomposition and recycling of discarded paper to create new paper goods without harming trees or forests. When compared to manufacturing new material from virgin material, paper recycling reduces the demand for raw resources, requires less energy, and helps to reduce pollution. It is possible to recycle paper that has not been polluted with food or grease.