Recycling of Paper Products

Paper is recycled at a relatively high rate in the U.S. Rates are particularly high for corrugated boxes, which are predominantly recovered from businesses rather than from households. Packaging is a major source of recycled paper, as well as a major market for the recycled fiber. Paper coated with plastic or wax is difficult to recycle. The paper-recycling process involves re-suspending the fibers in the slurry, and separating contaminants. Recycled fibers tend to be shorter and weaker than virgin fibers. Contaminants in the recycled paper can cause problems with operation of the process as well as with paper performance. With proper design, recycled paper can perform very similarly to paper made from virgin fiber.