Office Paper Recycling
by Brian Nelson

Introduction

The largest fraction of municipal solid waste produced, approximately 25-40% comes from paper and paper products. Of this, office paper accounts for the largest segment in the United States. Office paper is a generic name given to a variety of paper products. In 1990, 51 pounds of office paper was produced for every American. In 1993, 7.1 million tons of office paper was produced, accounting for 3.4% of the municipal solid waste stream. This amount was reduced to 2% after recycling.

The Colorado School of Mines is currently a mixed paper supplier. This means that recycling bins around campus can accept most forms of paper, but the following should be kept out of the recycling bins: sunburned or weathered paper, food containers, waxed or treated papers, composites containing plastic or metal foils bound catalogs, telephone directories, blue prints, Post-It notes, fax paper, suing or paper clips. New technologies have been developed to handle staples and plastic windows on envelopes.

Background

Unprinted trimmings and scraps from print shops and writing manufacturing operations have long been recycled. It was not until the mid-1970's that the EPA began to promote office paper recycling. Due to the increase in commercial recycling mandates in several states, office paper recycling programs are becoming more commonplace. The Paper Stock Institute of America represents the buyers and processors of waste paper. They have established standards for over 50 grades of waste paper including newspaper, mixed paper, and white ledger paper. Office paper is included under the category of white ledger paper and is comprised of letterhead, copy paper, computer printouts, and file stock. The recycling industry is significant in the United States. In 1989, one quarter of the US paper pulp supply came from recycled sources.

Market for office paper

Paper recycling is important because it can help reduce the trade deficit. In 1989, 23% of all waste paper collected was exported to Pacific Rim countries. The next largest market is domestic tissue mills. Several paper mills have also begun using office paper as the primary raw material in the production of printing and writing paper.

What is recycled office paper used for? Used office paper may find its way back into your life in several forms. Office paper can be used for corrugated goods, newspaper, printing and writing paper, tissues and towels, molded products, craft paper, construction products, and combination box board.
In spite of efforts, only a portion of discarded paper can be reused. Virgin material is still considered cheap and abundant, but this is expected to change. Urban centers are commonly far from the paper mills. There is still only a handful of paper mills with deinking capabilities for producing high-grade paper pulp.

Office paper facts

The average wood pulp tree produces 11,500, 8.5' x 11' pages, and approximately 9 acres of forest are required to produce I million pages.
The current prices for recycled paper are $73 per ton of high-grade office paper and $131 per ton of sorted white ledger. Mixed prices are significantly lower.

Where to recycle office paper at CSM?

Office paper recycling bins are located around campus. They can usually be found near copy machines and in the computer rooms. If additional bins are needed for offices or other locations, Environmental Safety can be contacted.

Additional information

Additional office paper and other recycling information can be found on the following web sites:

http:// www.recycle.net/recycle/paper/index.html
http://ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu/paperfac.html