What gives and what does paper recycling look like?
As the public's awareness of environmental protection increases, so does the number of people who realize that its inseparable element is, among other things, waste segregation. Each of us comes into contact with products made of paper practically every day, whether we are at home, work, university or in a store. However, are we all really well aware of how paper recycling works and what it actually serves? From this article you will learn first of all: what the paper recycling process looks like, what you should pay attention to, and how you can contribute to giving a second life to products.
What exactly is paper recycling?
To explore the topic in more depth, we need to clarify at the outset exactly what paper recycling is. In the simplest terms, it is the recycling of paper, thanks to which we can reuse collected waste paper, both cardboard and paper, to make new products. This is how the materials get a second life, and the trees that are used to make paper do not have to be cut down in such huge quantities. Interestingly, speaking of reprocessing, it is worth noting that paper can be recycled up to 5 times! So, if you too would like to be eco, not only should you give up plastic products, but in addition to this, remember to dispose of used waste paper in the blue trash container.
Paper recycling versus trash segregation - why does one go hand in hand with the other?
Paper recycling is not possible without obtaining trash made of the same material and meeting certain criteria, which is why it is so important to pay attention to the marking of garbage cans. In the blue container dedicated to paper waste, you can throw away, among other things:
- newspapers;
- books, but only in soft covers or after tearing off the hard covers;
- paper bags;
- paper bags;
- cardboard;
- printer's clippings.
Garbage segregation, although very simple, also needs to be based on several principles to make paper recycling feasible. What kind of paper to recycle - wet, dry or maybe composite?
- First - before you throw anything in the blue garbage can, check that the paper is dry - wet, dirty and greasy paper is not recyclable! What's more, putting it in the container may result in all the material collected, no longer recyclable. Cardboard boxes are recommended to be folded to save space.
- Second - the fact that the product is made of paper is one thing, but you must also pay attention to whether it has been varnished or foiled, products such as wallpaper, dirty paper, carbon paper, packaging made of many different materials and hygiene items - are not suitable for paper recycling.
- Third - paper collected through segregation arrives at cellulose waste collection points, where it is carefully inspected. Materials other than paper found with it are removed, and waste paper is divided into several groups depending on the quality presented.
By remembering to segregate waste, you are making a really big bow to the planet, just by doing this, the environment is improved, and the process of creating a new product again is possible at all.
Disposal of paper - learn all the steps of recycling
Despite the fact that there is constant talk about waste disposal, we still don't really all fully know how paper recycling actually works. Its process is not only very environmentally friendly, but also interesting.
1. Sorting, or what we need to start paper recycling with
Once the waste from the blue container arrives at the collection point, it must be sorted properly. As you already know, it is extremely important that the collected paper does not contain contaminants. Recycling won't be possible if food scraps, plastic, garbage and other things that shouldn't be there aren't removed - with meticulous sorting you can make the process much faster and more efficient. Once only paper is left, it is wrapped in compressed rectangular bales to take up as little space as possible.
2. Paper disposal can't do without pulping
Paper that has been transported to a so-called paper mill must be crushed and subjected to a pulping process. This involves running it through machines that first cut it into small pieces, and then it is crushed into very fine threads of cellulose otherwise known as fibers. All this is made possible by heating a specially prepared mixture made from several chemical compounds and water.
3. Recycling of discolored paper - we need to get rid of the colors
At this stage it is necessary to remove printing inks and adhesive plastics from the collected material. How Small batches of ink, are decolorized with water, moving on to larger areas, at which the flotation process is implemented - decolorization with air bubbles. A paper is placed in a special container, into which air is injected through the aforementioned bubbles, chemicals and soap. As a result of this process, bubbles are formed, and the ink, along with the glue, is "pulled" to the top of the pulp.
4. Bleaching the recycled paper to make it like new again
After the paper has gone through the previous three stages, we get it in the form of pulp, which is brown in color, and this is not the end result we want, so it was time for bleaching. Oxygen, hydrogen peroxide along with ozone makes it obtain a satisfactory light color.
5. Drying and starting the further processing path - the final stage of paper recycling
The time has come for the obtained paper to be dried, so that it will be suitable for carrying out further processing depending on the product we want to obtain from it.
As you can see for yourself, this process is not at all so obvious and simple. Therefore, you should keep in mind that paper loses its properties after each recycling and becomes inferior in quality, but it still contributes to environmental protection and generates savings. For this reason, you should not underestimate the segregation of trash, because it is also possible to recycle paper many more times thanks to you.
What are the benefits of paper recycling and why should you take care of it?
What benefits do you think we get from recycling paper besides getting new products into our hands? First of all, by recycling a ton of paper we are able to save a lot:
- up to 7 cubic meters of landfill space,
- 26,500 liters of water,
- 4,200 kWh of energy,
- 1476 liters of oil,
- lots of trees and forests.
To better understand this, imagine that this amount of water would be enough for you to live 36 years, drinking 2 liters a day, and with the saved energy you could heat your apartment for up to six months!
It is worth getting children used to segregating garbage from an early age, so, encourage your kids to collect waste paper, for which they will be able to receive a small amount of money, but in this case it is the desire and higher purpose that counts, and the material reward is only an add-on.
Recycling paper is a way for its 5 lives - what products are created thanks to it?
Due to the high contact of Poles with paper, it is estimated that in our country per person as much as about 60 kg of this material per year. After such a time you are able to earn on waste paper about 17 zlotys - depending on the prevailing rate per kilogram. But the most important thing is that with the ability to recycle paper 5 times, as many times we can save and gain a lot!
Paper recycling - the most popular products that are created thanks to it include:
- transport packaging,
- boxes for products such as storage,
- bags,
- envelopes,
- egg packs,
- toilet paper,
- paper towel.
Interesting facts from real life, that is, paper recycling and facts related to it
For those very interested in the topic, as well as those who do not quite feel convinced that it is worthwhile to separate trash, we have collected some interesting facts about paper recycling that are sure to surprise many:
- About 42% of the world's trees are cut down for paper production.
- It is estimated that annually each household throwing away paper waste contributes to the cutting down of 3 trees.
- Up to 300 million tons of paper are produced annually worldwide, and this is only possible through recycling.
- Acquiring one ton of waste paper is a chance to produce as much as 900 kg of paper.
The facts are indisputable, and it is clear at a glance that paper recycling is the hope for the future of our Earth. Choose eco-friendly packaging and together with us change the world for the better.