Paper and cardboard waste

To produce one ton of paper, an average of 17 mature trees are cut down. These trees could have produced the oxygen needed for 320 people and purified about 26 thousand cubic meters of air. In addition, one hectare of forest retains approximately 40 thousand kg of dust annually and contributes to the balance of the water cycle in nature.

Why recycle paper and cardboard: New paper is produced from recycled paper/cardboard using only one-sixth of the energy needed to make pulp paper. This can serve for the manufacture of new goods such as napkins, greeting cards, cardboard packaging, bags, etc.

At the paper recycling plant, the materials are ground and turned into a pulp by adding hot water. After that the mixture is filtered and purified, so that it becomes a secondary raw material ready for reuse in the production of new paper goods, being mixed with virgin cellulose, depending on the use and destination of the final product. By using recycled paper/cardboard, pressure on the environment is reduced:

• water consumption is reduced by approximately 60 % for the production of new products;
• one ton of recycled paper saves 15-17 trees, reduces the consumption of 2.5 barrels of oil, 4132 KwH, 2.26 m³ of waste storage space;
• emissions and air pollution are reduced by almost 70 % from the industrial production process involved;
• water pollution is reduced by about 35 %; to.

What can be recycled: Boxes, notebooks, books, newspapers, magazines, sheets, brochures, xero-copies, cardboard packaging, envelopes/paper bags, paper that can no longer be used for packaging or writing, etc.

What is not recycled: Chemical/thermal paper such as tax receipt paper, fax paper, indigo paper, and parchment paper. This is to be incinerated, collected together with non-recyclable waste.

To promote the recycling of paper / cardboard, they are collected and stored in a dry place, pressed / folded to reduce their volume. Avoid contaminating them with oils or other impurities. To be freed beforehand from glue, polyester or other impurities. Boxes can be disassembled, stacked and tied. Smaller papers can be collected in a larger cardboard box. New products are produced from recycled paper / cardboard: books, notebooks, newspapers, boxes, etc.

Note: contaminated or wet paper practically cannot be recycled! Used paper kitchen towels, pizza boxes can be composted