Recycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to go green and help the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 84 percent of all household waste is recyclable, with paper products accounting for over one-third of all recycled materials annually. Prior to the 1980s, magazines were not generally accepted for recycling because of their glossy coating. Today, recycling facilities across the country are equipped to recycle magazines through a fairly straightforward process.
Collection and Transportation
The magazine recycling process begins with their collection and transportation to the recycling facility. When collecting your magazines for recycling, separate them from other types of paper products and make sure they are dry and free of food particles. If curbside pickup is not available in your area, contact the nearest recycling center to determine where you can drop off your collected magazines. According to Earth911, any recycling facility that accepts paper can accept magazines.
Sorting
Once the magazines reach the recycling center, they will then be sorted to remove contaminants, such as paper clips, plastic materials or other trash. Once any contaminants are removed, the magazines are baled and sent to the paper mill. Georgia Pacific estimates that these bales can weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds each.
Repulping and Screening
The collected magazines are then placed in a pulper, which chops them into tiny pieces. According to TAPPI, originally the Technical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry, water and chemicals are added to the paper pieces and then heated, which helps to break the material down into cellulose fibers. Once the paper is completely broken down, it is then forced through a series of screens which remove any remaining contaminants.
Deinking
Magazines must have their glossy coating and ink removed before they can be made into new paper products. In the deinking process, the pulp is placed in a large vat and then injected with air and cleaning agents. According to TAPPI, these chemicals cause the ink to loosen from the pulp and stick to the air bubbles. As the ink-coated air bubbles float to the surface, they create a frothy surface layer which can be skimmed off, leaving the clean pulp behind.
Refining, Bleaching and Color Stripping
The clean magazine pulp is then beaten to make the fibers swell and separate. According to TAPPI, the pulp may also be bleached or color stripped to remove any remaining traces of color. Once the pulp is thoroughly cleaned, it's then ready to be made into paper.
Papermaking
To make paper, the pulp is blended with virgin wood fibers, water and chemicals. The mixture is then fed into a machine which sprays it onto a wire screen. As the mixture begins to dry, the fibers bond together to form a solid sheet of paper. The sheet then passes through a series of heated rollers and a glossy coating may also be applied. According to TAPPI, the paper is then wound onto rolls or cut into sheets that can be used to make newspaper, tissue paper, copy paper, paperboard or greeting cards.
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