Recycling Paper
In 2008/09 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough residents helped to recycle over 45,961 tonnes of paper and cardboard. Not bad, but studies by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) have revealed that our household rubbish is made up of potentially 18% recyclable paper and cardboard. This suggests that in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough we still sent nearly 70,000 tonnes to be buried in the ground. What a waste! The best option is to recycle it or even better reduce it!
Paper facts:
- Trees for papermaking are grown and harvested.
The bigger the demand for wood pulp is, the
more space we need to grow managed plantations.
This could means cutting down more old growth
forests to make room for these plantations,
also resulting in loss of wildlife habitats
and ecosystems
- When paper and cardboard starts to decompose
it gives off methane gas, a big contributing
factor to climate change!
- Producing recycled paper uses 28% less energy
& water and gives off fewer polluting emissions
- For every tonne of paper we recycle, we save
up to 31 trees - that means if we were able to recycle
the amount we buried in the ground could have saved over two million trees!
- The paper industry is the UK's largest recycler
What happens to my paper?
- Once collected, it will be taken to a sorting facility to be cleaned and separated into different paper types
- Contaminants have to be removed. This includes metals, oil and adhesives. If bales of paper are too contaminated they may be rejected
- The different types of paper are baled up and sent to paper mills (this region has one in Aylesford, Kent)
- At the paper mill it is pulped up with water, filtered and screened to prepare it to be made into new paper
- Depending on the product, some virgin material may be added
- The paper is dried and flattened and rolled into sheets to make new products
Buying recycled
To make sure there is a future
for recycled paper products we need to keep buying
them. There are loads of recycled paper products
such as office paper, envelopes, stationary, newspapers,
magazines, toilet paper, paper towels and tissues.
Recycled paper products are good quality and the
technology keeps improving. The more recycled
paper products we buy the more manufacturers can
invest in making their products better.
Paper mills will not continue
to make recycled paper products if no one buys
them. Keep the market alive - buy recycled!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) How can I recycle my paper?
A) There are three ways to recycle paper - put it in your kerbside collection, in your local recycling bank, or take it to your nearest recycling centre. See also how to recycle paper at home.
Q) What paper can I recycle - there are so many sorts!?
A) How you can recycle different types of paper depends on where you live. Check your recycling scheme for more details on recycling paper in your area.
Q) Can I recycle envelopes?
A) Yes. Please check your recycling scheme for details.
Q) Can I recycle phone books and catalogues?
A) Yes, you can put phone books, yellow pages and other catalogues in your recycling bin or box. Please check your recycling scheme for more information.
Q) Can I recycle shredded paper?
No, although most local authorities compost shredded paper. This is because although, technically, shredded paper can be recycled, some paper mills cannot take it. There are two main reasons for this;
- the average fibre length of the paper decreases with shredding, and thus paper made from it will be weaker, and
- shredded paper can be difficult to handle at the mill and dependant on the equipment there, it can cause maintenance problems and fire hazards
Q) How can I reduce the amount of paper I use?
A) You can reduce the amount of paper you use by using both sides of the paper when printing and printing two sides per page, re-using envelopes or using pieces as scrap paper to write notes or shopping lists. Think before you bin it!
