Increased demand for products made from recycled paper has, in turn, led to improved recycling streams and increased recycling rates. Landfill taxes, applied to general waste, have also increased recycling rates.
Although recycling rates have increased there is still room for improvement - especially with segregation that allows waste paper to be appropriately reused.
Although recycling rates have increased there is still room for improvement - especially with segregation that allows waste paper to be appropriately reused.
Collected waste paper is sorted, often by hand, and sold, often on the open market, for reuse. The vast majority of waste paper collected in the UK is exported: lower grade waste and cardboard is usually exported to Asia…to return in the packaging for the goods we import.
The segregation of waste paper varies according to stipulations from the next stage of the process: the reusers.
The segregation of waste paper varies according to stipulations from the next stage of the process: the reusers.
Waste paper is collected from a variety of locations, by specialist, licensed companies ; some as segregated waste for recycling, some in general waste destined for landfill.
A significant percentage of waste paper leaves the cycle at this point: it is not recycled or cannot be recycled. The maximum possible recycling rate is believed to be around 76%
A significant percentage of waste paper leaves the cycle at this point: it is not recycled or cannot be recycled. The maximum possible recycling rate is believed to be around 76%
Due to the demise of the UK papermaking industry very little collected waste is reprocessed locally.
Those UK paper mills that use waste paper purchase this, usually under contract to guarantee a supply, from Greenfield near Paris, which is part of the Arjo Wiggins Group, or on the open market.
Those UK paper mills that use waste paper purchase this, usually under contract to guarantee a supply, from Greenfield near Paris, which is part of the Arjo Wiggins Group, or on the open market.
Office waste is a valuable resource for the whiter recycled papers and sanitary products.
Given that the landfill tax and a collection cost applies to general, office waste, it makes financial sense for all companies to maintain efficient internal recycling systems
Given that the landfill tax and a collection cost applies to general, office waste, it makes financial sense for all companies to maintain efficient internal recycling systems
Due to the demise of the UK papermaking industry, the vast majority of papers used in the UK are imported. European paper mills outside of the UK are also struggling to compete as the global papermaking industry becomes increasingly dominated by Asia.
It is, of course, because of market forces that a diverse range of high quality recycled and part-recycled papers currently exists.
It is, of course, because of market forces that a diverse range of high quality recycled and part-recycled papers currently exists.
Printing companies generate large amounts of waste paper and are usually paid by waste collection companies for this paper. If not recycled, paper waste disposed of in general waste, destined for landfill, attracts a charge – the landfill tax is applied in addition to a collection charge.
It makes no sense for a printing company to do anything other than recycle its paper waste.
It makes no sense for a printing company to do anything other than recycle its paper waste.
Paper merchants commission papers according to perceived demand. Papers only exist where profitable markets exist.
This is one of the reasons for the absence of recycled, or even part-recycled, papers for certain products or processes.
This is one of the reasons for the absence of recycled, or even part-recycled, papers for certain products or processes.