How much paper do Americans recycle each year? Recent estimates claim that nearly half of all the paper Americans use is recovered for recycling. That’s nearly fifty million tons of newspaper, boxes, office paper, magazines, cereal and cracker boxes, paper bags, and many other products you use every day.
How is paper recycled? Rohn collects paper from offices and other businesses and transports it back to our facility. There, paper is sorted, baled, and then transported to paper recycling mills.
At the mill, depending on the recipe for the product being made, the recovered paper may be sorted again to get the right mix and to keep out any contaminants such as plastic and glass.
Recovered paper is then mixed with water to form a slurry. The fibers are washed, unwanted materials are screened out, and the slurry is spread over a wire screen to drain excess moisture and make a sheet. After the sheet is formed, it is dried and wound onto a large roll, which is finally cut into smaller sheets for converting paper and packaging.
What kinds of products are made from recycled paper? Recycled paper is often made into the same grade of paper it was originally. For example, most newspapers are made into new newspapers. Corrugated boxes are made into new boxes, brown paper bags into new bags, and office paper into new office paper. Mixed papers can be made into a variety of paper products including cereal boxes, newspapers, and paper towels.
Of the paper recovered in the U.S., approximately 81% is recycled into new products by American paper mills. About 16% is exported to foreign markets for recycling, and the rest is used domestically for products such as insulation, molded packaging, hydro mulch, compost, and kitty litter.
What paper products can be recycled? Virtually all clean paper is recyclable. It is important, however, to keep paper free from contaminants such as food, adhesives, and glass.
What happens to paper that can’t be recycled? It can be composted. Food-soiled or other contaminated paper such as waxed corrugated boxes, napkins, paper towels, paper plates and cups, and tissues normally can’t be recycled, but they can be recovered as compost. If milk cartons or drink boxes can’t be recycled in your community, they are also candidates for composting.
For paper
that can't be recycled or composted, its energy value can be recovered, usually through combustion with other materials at waste to energy facilities.
Why do paper mills use recycled paper? Because it’s cost efficient and it saves natural resources. About 80% of U.S. papermakers use some recovered fiber in manufacturing, and nearly 200 mills rely exclusively on recovered paper for their fiber.
Today, paper is the country’s most recycled product. More paper is diverted from landfills for recycling than all other materials combined.
How do I know if a product contains recycled paper? Products that contain recycled paper will often be marked with the recycling symbol. In addition to the symbol, there is usually a specific claim as to the amount of recovered paper fiber the product contains.
Does Rohn recycle more than just paper? While paper is the material most often recycled, Rohn can help you recycle other materials including plastics, metals and even computers. If you need to get rid of it, there is a very good chance we can find a home for it.
