Scrap paper can only be recycled five to seven times before the wood fibers become too small and brittle to be made into new paper. Some types are harder to recycle than others. Papers that are waxed, pasted, gummed, or coated with plastic or aluminum foil are usually not recycled because the process is too expensive.

How to prepare for recycling:

Sort the paper according to type: white paper (bond paper), newsprint, cardboard, and mixed paper (assorted wastes). Keep it dry and free from contaminants such as food, plastic, gum, metal and other trash, as contaminated paper cannot be recycled.

How it is recycled:

The used paper is repulped, or broken down into smaller pieces and mixed with water. The pulp is then passed through a screen and cleaned to remove contaminants. It is then deinked, refined, bleached and color stripped. After this, it is mixed with virgin pulp to make new paper.

Products:

Most recovered paper is recycled back into paper and paperboard products. Recovered paper is generally recycled into a grade similar to, or of lower quality than, the grade of the original product. For example, old corrugated boxes are used to make new recycled corrugated boxes. Recovered printing and writing paper can be used to make new recycled copy paper.

Recycled pulp can be used in a variety of other products, such as egg cartons, fruit trays, ceiling and wall insulation, paint filler, and roofing.

What is saved:

Producing recycled paper consumes between 28 to 70 percent less energy and uses less water than producing virgin paper. A ton of paper made from recycled fibers instead of virgin fibers conserves: 7,000 gallons of water, 17 to 31 trees, and 4,000 Kwh of electricity.

source: http://www.taoshelter.tao-pilipinas.org; photo from http://www.lodi.gov