Recovered Paper

Publisher Summary Recovered paper, or waste paper, can come from a number of different sources, including internally at the paper mill. A number of different terms are used to indicate when in the life cycle of the paper that it is returned for recycling. Recovered paper collection is done in a number of different ways, depending on the type of paper being collected and the source of the paper. In general, preconsumer recycled paper is easier to collect as it tends to be concentrated in specific manufacturing locations and also tends to be much more homogeneous. These collections, often of the form of cuttings, trimmings and over issues, are typically baled and packaged directly at the collection site with little additional processing needed. Paper recycling is a key raw material for the papermaking process, representing a significant portion of the fiber used. However, because of the degradation of the fibers through the papermaking and recycling process, the limit to the amount of paper being recycled is slowly being approached. In addition, there are a number of grades of paper that are currently not recycled and will not be in the foreseeable future. This is particularly true for such personal care products such as toweling and tissue. Future improvements in recycling will need to deal mainly with the fiber quality issues.