| There are several differences depending on the | | | | Waste disposal: The left over pupls and material that |
| certain classification of paper that is being recycled | | | | are no longer needed (sludge), is usally placed inside a |
| (newspaper, magazines, fiberboard). Recycling these | | | | landfill. Then to create energy, the materials are then |
| products involves many processes as listed below. | | | | burned to use at the mill or local farmers often use |
| Pulping: Adding water then engaging mechanical action | | | | the materials as fertilizer for crops. |
| to divide fibers from each other. | | | | Standards |
| Screening: Using a screen-like material, with small holes | | | | Paper is one of the most common recycling materials |
| so that the larger contaminants may be removed. | | | | on earth. The average amount of recycling for each |
| Centrifugal cleaning: Removing the more dense | | | | paper is 4-6 times due to the weakening of the |
| materials by spinning the pulp slurry with a cleaner. | | | | fibers. To provide more strength the virgin pulp is |
| Flotation: Letting air bubbles that are passing by to | | | | mixed together with the paper being recycled. |
| enter the pulp slurry causes the ink particles to | | | | There is not a standard of the maximum percentage |
| cluster with the surface foam. With the contaminated | | | | that a virgin pulp can be in recycled paper. Most |
| foam removed, the pulp is adapted into a brighter | | | | recycled paper has anywhere from 10%-100% used |
| material. Sometimes deinking is the term used for this | | | | paper in it. Many companies that receive government |
| process. | | | | money, state governments that collect funding; |
| Dispersion or Kneading: A mechanical action is | | | | therefore, a 50% post-consumer recycled paper is |
| enforced to breakdown the particles that may be | | | | the standard for use. The EPA doesn't control |
| contaminant. | | | | recycled paper being used outside of our |
| Washing: The water is ran through the pulp to | | | | government. The only duty they have it setting a |
| removed the smaller particles still within the water. | | | | minimum guideline to go by. There are three divions |
| Bleaching: This is dependent upon the color of paper | | | | of paper the may be purchased for feedstocks, |
| needed. For the most common (white), hydrosulfites | | | | including: pre/post-consumer waste. The trimmings |
| or peroxides are used to removed the color. | | | | left over at a virgin paper mill are described as the |
| Papermaking: The newly bleached fibers are made | | | | mill broke. The material that was sent for customers |
| into the new paper product using the same concept | | | | to purchase but was not ready are pre-consumer |
| as the virgin paper was made. | | | | waste, and the material thrown away after being |
| Dissolved air flotation: To reuse the processed water | | | | used is defined as post-consumer waste. |
| is cleaned once more. | | | | |