paper & cardboard - unitingsa · paper & cardboard australian households and businesses use...

THEFACTSABOUT

Making paper from recycledmaterials uses 99% lesswater and 50% less energythan if produced from rawmaterials.

It takes 2.5tonnes ofradiate pineto make justone tonne ofnewsprint.

Paper breaks down slowlyin landfill due to a lack ofoxygen. As a resultmethane is released inlarge amounts, having agreater greenhouse gasimpact than carbondioxide.

One tree makesapproximately sixreams or 3077pieces of A4paper.

The production of 26 sheets ofpaper producesthe same amountof greenhousegas as driving acar 1km.

By recycling one kilogramof paper and cardboard,you reduce the productionof greenhouse gases byone kilogram.

Recycling1 tonne ofnewspapersaves 3 cubicmetres oflandfill space.

PAPER &CARDBOARDAUSTRALIAN HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES USE MILLIONS OF TONNES OFPAPER EVERY YEAR. OVER 5.5 MILLION TONNES OF PAPER AND CARDBOARDWAS USED FROM 2006-2007, WITH 2.5 MILLION TONNES OF THIS RECYCLED.

WHILE RESIDENTIAL WASTE DESTINED FOR LANDFILL FROM 2006-2007CONTAINED 26% PAPER AND CARDBOARD, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIALWASTE CONTAINED 55%.

WHAT HAPPENSTO PAPER?

THEFACTSABOUT

Sources: Department ofSustainability, Environment, Water,Population and Communities, CleanUp, Planet Ark, National WasteReport – EPHC, Zero Waste andWaste Paper Recycling.

COLLECTIONPaper is collected from homes,businesses and recycling sites

and sent to a MaterialsRecycling Facility (MRF).

DRYINGThe pulp is poured onto a wire

screen to drain and form asheet. This is then passed under

heavy rollers (to squeeze outmore water), heated rollers (to

dry) and iron rollers (tostraighten the paper).

DE-INKINGAir is passed through the pulp

to produce foam whichremoves at least half the ink.

Chemicals can also be used toseparate the ink from the paper

which is then washed away.

PAPER &CARDBOARD

SORTING & BALINGThe paper is sorted and gradeddepending on its type. It is thencompressed into a bale shape.

PULPING &SCREENING

The paper is mixed with waterin a large vat, making a mushymixture called pulp. The pulp isthen screened to remove any

plastic or glue.

NEW PAPERThe paper is rolled into one

giant roll (as wide as 30 feet andup to 20 tonnes in weight) and

then cut into smaller rolls.

January 2012