Opsus.com - Paper Shredding Blog

Have you ever wondered what happens to the stacks and boxes of paper you recycle? You read about how paper recycling saves energy, trees and landfill space while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases like methane. And, you’ve likely seen numerous products that are stamped “made with recycled paper” while doing your back to school shopping.

But how does the actual process work?

It starts with you. The first step in the process is when you place your old paper in a recycling bin or drop it off for shredding.

The discarded paper is then taken to a facility like ours where it is sorted. For example, glossy magazine paper requires a different process than shredded tax records. At Office Paper Systems we bale shredded and recyclable materials and ship the bales to paper mills for reprocessing.

Once these bales reach the paper mills they are prepared using various processes. The paper may be subjected to a large magnet to remove any loose staples or paper clips. It could be spun in a centrifuge to separate water soluble additives like glue.

At this point, the paper is chopped and blended with water. This destroys its original shape and allows it to be worked into different forms and types of paper. This is called “pulping”. This process generally happens quickly as most paper types are easily broken down.

Part of the pulping process requires the removal of all the ink – this is especially true for recycled newspapers. Generally, the raw pulp is treated with chemicals or bleach to create an even color.

After pulping, the paper is screened and drained. Screening is the process whereby the pulp is placed on a flat surface. This allows for water drainage and begins to restore the paper to its original shape.

This pulp is now the raw material paper mills use to create new paper, office supplies, cups – even insulation. However, what paper is recycled into often depends on its original quality. For example, high grade paper such as computer/copy paper or stationery is often recycled into more of the same – or tissue products. (Yes, you could be sneezing into what was originally an inter-office memo.) You will also see some of this high grade pulp used in the making of cardboard boxes and brown grocery bags. This is because the higher grade fiber provides the strength needed for these products.

Other so-called mixed use papers – like old cardboard or lower quality paper types – are molded into items like egg cartons or other consumer packaging products.

While there might be some concern in the chemicals used in the pulping process, most paper mills are now switching to greener products that reduce their impact on the environment.

In the long run, taking the time to place all your paper products into the recycling bin or taking them to a recycling facility for shredding benefits us all.

And, if you are ever curious about what you should or should not recycle – remember this easy tip: If you can tear it, you can recycle it.