School newspaper drives, curbside recycling and volunteer efforts contribute to the 73 percent U.S. recycling rate for newspaper. Recycling paper saves energy. The Grays Harbor County Recycling Center in Washington claims that "...one ton of newspaper saves three tons of wood pulp." This is equal to 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. Recycled newspaper uses 23 percent less power than is used to manufacture newsprint from a supply of new pulp.
History
Manufacturers in Lei-Yang, China, produced the first paper made from plants in 105 A.D. Muslims adopted the process in 700 A.D., and in 1150 A.D. the first European paper mill was constructed. The first American paper mill was built in 1690 in the area of what is now Pennsylvania. It took until 1883 for the first paper grocery bag to be invented. The earliest newspapers, known as broadsides, used paper made from cloth, which continued to be the source of American newspapers through the Civil War. Englishman Mathias Koops patented the first recycling process in 1800 with a machine that removed ink from paper.
Considerations
More than 60 percent of all paper produced is collected for recycling in the United States, the American Forest and Paper Association reported in 2009. The Paper Industry Association Council noted in the same year that 70 percent of newspapers were recycled. This high recycling percentage, combined with an overall reduction of approximately 20 percent in newspaper production, made newspapers the most recycled segment of the paper industry.
Collection
Newspapers are collected for recycling in multiple ways. Commercial printers recycle unusable products by selling the roll ends to schools or businesses. Public collection bins include large dumpsters, wooden collection stations, and rectangular metal or plastic containers known as Slot Bullseyes. The lid of each unit has a narrow slot for depositing small numbers of newspapers. Home newspaper collection incorporates stackable bins. Slim Jims are used in offices, and recycle-bin carts with wheels make for easy transportation for curbside recovery.
Features
Approximately six percent of recycled newspaper is transformed into more newspapers. Recycled newspaper is also used to create molded pulp products, insulation and paperboard. Newspaper is collected and shredded into small pieces at the recycling center. Shredded magazine paper is combined with the newsprint to assist in removing ink from the paper. Water is added to the shredded pieces, and the mixture is reduced to a pulp that is washed and then drained with screens to remove the water. After bleaching, the pulp is mixed with small wood chips, according to Washington State's Grays Harbor County Recycling Center. The product is drained again and flattened with a dryer, and the flattened product is then cut into the appropriate size for reuse.
New Products from Newspapers
Recycled newspaper is transformed into egg cartons, gift wrapping paper, fast food drink carriers, cereal boxes and grocery bags, according to the Newspaper Association of America. It is also processed into cellulose for building insulation and sheet rock roofing, according to the Grays Harbor County Recycling Center. Manufacturers use recycled newspaper products and recycled wood products to produce pencils. Tissue paper made from recycled newspaper offers a less expensive alternative for use in public schools and government buildings.
References
- Newspaper Association of America: Facts About Newspaper Recycling
- Fort Collins, Colorado Government: The History of Paper & Recycling
- Georgia-Pacific: Educational in Nature: Paper Recycling
- American Forest & Paper Association: Recycling
- Paper Industry Association Council: Recovery of ONP/Mechanical Papers
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