Recycling Newspapers
by Lupong Kaewsichan

Introduction

U.S. newsprint production capacity was 7 million tons in 1991, with total North America capacity of 18.5 million tons. Over 50 % of the newsprint [Newsprint is the paper itself. Newspapers are Mat newsprint becomes after it is printed on.] consumed in the U.S. is imported from Canada. Approximately 20 per cent of paper recovered from Colorado waste stream is sold to end market within the state. About 60 per cent is shipped to mills in the Pacific Coast States (Washington, Oregon and California), and 20 per cent is shipped to mills in others states or is exported to Mexico or the Far East.

Background

The technology of recycling paper is one of the oldest industries of recycling. Since 1690 only one source of paper had come from recycle textile fiber. By the time of the mid-nineteen century, the demand of paper became tremendous that there was not enough recycle fiber to supply. Paper producers therefore created a new technology Mich fiber from wow replaced the old textile fiber. The consumption of wood in paper industries has been warmed by many people and recycle paper industries is one of the ways to reduce the consumption of wood.

The difference between the manufacturing of recycled paper and virgin paper is the de-inking process. Until the relatively recent resurgence of interest in using recycle paper products, the few de-inking plants that were on line in the United States are not enough to handle that collected paper.

The glut of newspaper is the reason the buy-back prices dropped so precipitously in the late 1980s and have remained low. There is simply more newspaper being collected than can be de-inked and processed at the moment. In addition, the current demand for recycled paper is not high enough to encourage investors.

By manufacturing recycled paper, the need for virgin paper can be greatly reduced. However, the paper has its limited times in recycling. Each time in the process, the fibers are cut or broken down. The short fibers create paper with low qualities. For this reason, most recycled paper still contains either some virgin pulp fibers or fiber's derived from waste paper with longer fibers.

Newspaper Solid Waste Facts

Weight - In 1993, newspapers constituted 12.9 million tons, or 5.9% of the municipal waste (MSW) stream before recycling.
Volume - In 1993, newspapers comprised 4.0% of the volume of landfilled MSW.
Recycling rate - In 1991, 52% of the newspapers consumed in the U.S. were recycled, In 1988, 33% were recycled.

Newspaper and Integrated Solid Waste Management

Source Reduction - Paper can be lightweighted and downsized (low density and thin paper). Newsprint production decreases primarily Men an economic recession causes fewer ads to be printed, resulting in fewer newspaper pages.
Recycling - The recycling process shortens paper fibers, a newspaper can be recycled a maximum of six to eight times before the fibers are too short to be used.

Markets for newspapers in Colorado

There are four companies manufacturing their products from the waste paper in Colorado. Two companies that recycle newspaper, Republic PaperBoard Co., at Commerce City and Arctic Insulation, Inc. at Greeley. The average prices paid for the old newspaper in 1994 was around $50 to $70 per ton. About 75 per cent of the waste paper used by the Republic Company is old corrugated containers. The remaining 25 per cent is old newspaper and mixed paper. The plant consumes over 150 tons per day of waste paper. The product of Republic Paper Board is recycle linerboard. Arctic Insulation Company processes about 15 tons of old newspaper per day to make cellulose insulation.

Markets for newspaper outside Colorado

Most of the old newspaper from Colorado is made into recycled newsprint by Smurfit in Oregon and North Pacific Paper Corp. in Washington.

There are two new markets for waste paper from Colorado:

1) Fort Howard Corp., Oklahoma: The plant consumes 600 tons per day of office paper and 600 tons per day of other grade (mixed paper, corrugated, and newspaper).
2) Superior Recycled Fiber, Minnesota: The plants consumes 350 tons per day of high grades of waste paper the output is 250 tons per day of de-inked paper. About 8 per cent of Superior's feedstock, or 10,000 tons per year, comes from Colorado. Prices range from $125 per ton for mixed office paper to $225 per ton for laser free computer printout.

Limitation to Newspaper Recycling

Lignin content - Lignin causes newspaper to turn yellow and deteriorate after exposure to the elements or prolonged storage.
Contamination - Contamination during collection (wet, mixed with food, mixed with broken glass, etc) can be a major problem.

Current Newspaper Recycling Effort

Many municipalities began curbside collecting newspapers. The number of curbside programs went from 47 in 1974 to 240 in 1980. To day, over 3000 communities collect newspapers at curbside for recycling. In Golden, there are two providers of curbside collection of recycle waste (including newspapers), Evergreen Disposal and West Side Recycling.

Where to dispose of paper at CSM?

There is not specific part for newspapers collected at CSM. Newspapers can go with office paper in the mixed paper bins.

References:
1. Debi Kimball, 'Recycling in America', ABC-CLIO, Inc. Santa Barbra, California, 1992.
2. Franklin Associates, Ltd, and Waste Resource Management, Inc., 'The Status of Recycling and Other Waste Diversion Activities in The State of Colorado, 1994.' A Report to the Colorado General Assembly under the supervision of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, December 1994.
3. Recycling Handbook