Every day, homes and schools throw away lots of paper: old newspapers, notebooks, boxes and wrappers. Much of it can get a second life through recycling. But here is a surprise: paper cannot be recycled forever.
How old paper becomes new paper
Recycling paper works almost the same way as making new paper. The big difference is where the fibres come from. Instead of wood, the mill uses old paper, card and cardboard. These are mixed with water and broken down in machines into a slurry (a thick, soupy mixture). The slurry is then spread out, pressed and dried into fresh sheets.
Why fibres get tired
Paper is made of tiny plant fibres that hold on to each other. Each time paper is pulped, its fibres break and become a little shorter. After about five to seven rounds of recycling, the fibres are too short to stick together. Paper made from them would be weak and full of holes.
That is why paper makers often mix some fresh fibre, such as new wood pulp, with recycled fibre. It is one reason you may see labels like “95% recycled paper” instead of 100%.
Not all paper can come back
- Paper with food or grease on it, like an oily food box, spoils the recycling.
- Paper mixed with plastic or chemicals causes problems too.
- Tissue paper that has been used cannot be collected back.
- Books that people keep for years stay out of the recycling loop.
Because of all this, some experts estimate that only up to about 80% of paper can realistically be collected for recycling.
How you can help
- Use both sides of a page before you throw it away.
- Keep waste paper clean and dry, away from food scraps.
- Collect old newspapers and notebooks and give them to your local raddiwala (scrap paper collector), so they can reach a recycling mill.
Recycling helps, but using paper carefully helps even more.
Wonder about: How many times might the paper in your notebook already have been recycled? Is there any way to tell?