What Happens to Paper When it is Recycled?

Most consumers are unaware of the steps and parties involved in the process of transforming paper recovered from recycling bins into final products.

July 17, 2018 2 min read

The life cycle of recycled paper from recycling bin to final product

Most consumers are unaware of the steps and parties involved in the process of transforming paper recovered from recycling bins into final products. As a manufacturer of commercial papers with up to 100 per cent recycled content, Rolland sees waste paper as a valuable resource. By offering sustainable paper products and helping to transform paper from recycling bins into new products, Rolland allows its customers to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a circular economy. The graphic below illustrates the journey of post-consumer recycled paper, from recycling bin to final product:

Legend

Recycling Bin Paper is collected from recycling bins at national and regional levels and transported to Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Sorting Centers MRFs receive, separate and prepare recyclable materials
Recyclable Paper Bales Recyclable paper materials are compacted into large rectangular bales
Sustana Fibers Facility Recyclable paper materials are transported to Sustana’s recycled fibers facility
Pulping, Screening & Washing Recyclable paper is blended in a pulping machine with water into a coarse pulp. Fibers are screened & washed to remove solid impurities and ink particles
Post-Consumer Recycled Fibers Fibers are thickened by dewatering, cut into sheets and baled
Rolland Paper Mill Fiber bales are transported to Rolland’s Paper Mill
Paper Machine Fibers are mixed with water, refined, screened, then processed using Rolland’s equipment, dried and formed into large rolls of paper
Converting Rolls of recycled paper are transported to Rolland’s converting center and cut into sheets
Final Products Sheets of post-consumer recycled paper are transported to end-users and turned into final products