Everything you need to know about recycling mixed paper

 

 

Learn more about recycling mixed paper

How to recycle mixed paper at work

Most types of mixed paper can be recycled as long as it's clean, uncontaminated and dry. Mixed paper includes office paper, newspapers, phone books and magazines, or any other type of paper that doesn’t have a wax coating.

There are a few options for businesses and workplaces that want to recycle paper, which are mostly dependant on the quantity of paper your workplace generates.

If you have large quantities of paper to recycle, it may be beneficial to organise a regular collection service with a commercial recycler. These recyclers can also be contacted if you have a large quantity of paper to dispose of but do not need a regular collection service. Use the directory on this page to find a recycler near you.

Small businesses that only generate small quantities of paper should be able to recycle their paper in their co-mingled recycling bin provided by their council or commercial recycling service. Check directly with your waste contractor or council if you are unsure.

Offices will likely be able to put paper and cardboard in their recycling bins, but it is best to check directly with your waste contractor. Many offices will separate paper and cardboard from other recyclables to keep the waste stream clean and prevent contamination from things like food scraps and glass. Collecting paper separately will increase the likelihood of the paper being turned into higher quality recycled materials and products.

Tips for recycling mixed paper

Follow these recycling tips for recycling paper:

• Make sure paper is clean and dry before putting it in the recycling bin.
• Flatten paper to make it as easy as possible for the recyclers.
• By flattening the paper, it will take up less space in bins and trucks, and it will also make sure the paper moves through the sorting process at the recycling facility without issue.

Why recycle?

When paper and cardboard is sent to landfill rather than recycled, it creates methane as it breaks down. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is more potent than carbon dioxide and a major contributor to global warming.

Paper can be recycled many times (between four and eight times before the fibres become too short to use again). Most cardboard is actually produced from recycled paper.?Manufacturing paper and cardboard products from recycled paper instead of virgin pulp (from trees) diverts waste from landfill, conserves trees and uses significantly less energy and water.

What happens to it?

The mixed paper is sorted and baled into various groupings. At the recycling plant these bales are shredded and mixed with water to break up the paper fibres and turn the material into pulp. The pulp is filtered to remove smaller non-paper items, such as paper clips, staples and plastic.

Pulp can then be re-manufactured into paper products in a similar way to first production paper. Any waste products left over from the recycling process (ink, short fibres and plastics) are collectively called "sludge" and are either sent to landfill, burnt for energy or used as fertiliser.
 

Using recycled paper

Purchasing recycled paper for your home office or workplace is a great way to help the planet. It supports the recycling industry by closing the recycling loops and keeps paper and cardboard out of landfill.

Using recycled paper saves trees. According to Sustainability Victoria, using 100 reams of recycled office paper (printed doubled-sided) instead of virgin paper or paper that hasn’t been printed on double-sided will save:

• Two trees
• More than one tonne of greenhouse gas
• Almost a cubic metre of landfill space

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can shredded paper be recycled?

No, shredded paper should not be put in your recycling bin. Paper that has been shredded will likely not be sorted correctly at the recycling facility where it could contaminate other materials like plastic. Shredded paper should be put in your garbage bin.

If you have a composting service for organics, you may be able to add the shredded paper to the compost. Check directly with your service provider.

How is paper recycled?

Paper is one of the most recycled materials in the world. Most types of paper are recyclable, provided the right recycling infrastructure is in place. If you have a recycling bin at home, paper and cardboard items that are generally accepted include packaging such as cereal boxes, cardboard boxes, pieces of paper, phone books, magazines and newspapers.

Once paper is collected, it is sent to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is separated from other recyclables and sorted into bales. The paper bales are then sent on to paper re-processors and recycled into new materials to be manufactured into products such as paper towel.?If the paper was kept in a separate bin from other recyclables, it may be taken directly to a paper recycling facility.

The first step in the paper recycling process is pulping, where the paper is mixed with water at high speed to break up the paper fibres. Any unwanted materials such as staples, plastic, glass and string are removed from the pulp via screening and filtering machines. The next step is de-inking, where the pulp is heated and treated to remove any ink. Finally, the clean pulp is ready to be turned into new paper – in this step, the pulp is diluted with water and mixed with paper-making chemicals and then pressed and dried into sheets.

Many products can be made from recycled paper, including office paper, toilet rolls and cardboard boxes.

How many times can paper be recycled?

Paper is not infinitely recyclable (meaning it cannot be recycled over and over again without loss to its quality; it can only be recycled a number of times). With each round of recycling, the paper fibres shorten which reduces paper quality. Most paper can be recycled between four to eight times before the fibres become too short to be used in new products.

Using recycled paper instead of paper made from new materials places less demand on natural resources (such as trees) and requires less water and energy to produce. Therefore, it is important to recycle your paper products and also buy paper products made from recycled paper.