What happens to recycled paper?

Paper is one of the most easily recycled materials, though the fibers of the material wear down, making it more difficult to recycle over time. Beyond saving trees, recycling paper can save energy and resources.

1. Paper is collected, thanks to individuals and businesses who properly sort their waste and those who collect it.
2. Paper is sorted and transported based on quality. Papers of similar quality will be grouped together, as different kinds of paper are needed to produce different recycled paper products.
3. At the recycling facility, paper is shredded and mixed with water and chemicals to create a pulp.
4. The pulp is filtered to remove any unwanted materials/contaminants that may have been included in the recovered paper.
5. Depending on the desired result, different methods and chemicals may be used to whiten or dye the paper. New paper material may be added to improve the quality.
6. The pulp is passed through rollers to remove water while flattening it, resulting in long sheets of paper.
7. The new paper material can be used to create a variety of paper products.