Here is a very short explanation of how paper is recycled. 1. Once collected, recycled paper is compacted into large bales and
2. Then transported to the mill.
3. At the mill, it is mixed with hot water and
4. Mechanically pulped to make a soup and
5. That is where screens and filters are used to remove any contaminants.
6. The mix is washed to remove inks and
7. Then whitened to achieve a uniform color. The best recycled papers are whitened without the use of chemicals containing chlorine that pollute the soil and water.
8. After a final rinse,
9. The pulp is pressed, dried and converted into a paper product ready for the consumer.
How can you help in recycling?
You can help by presorting your household waste, by separating newspapers, for example, from magazines. It is also important to keep the paper out of rain and sunlight, because exposure to the elements makes it harder to remove the ink from the paper.
