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16
2007
Is Paper Recycling Toxic?
Filed in: Waste & RecyclingReader Question
Hello,
Could you send some information regarding the processes involved in recycling paper? We were having a discussion and were wondering if the processes used to create recycled paper were more toxic than those used to create new paper?
Kim
Ashley's Answer
Hello Kim,
It would seem that your query is referring to the common myth that states something along the lines of: “recycling is more harmful than just throwing it away and buying new, virgin products.” Rest assured recycling is not a futile exercise and this, by all means, extends to paper. In fact, paper made from recycled material is less toxic than paper made from virgin paper. Let me explain.
Paper made from virgin sources requires an immense amount of bleaching to remove “lignin”, the natural glue in cellulose plants that yellows the paper if it is not removed. This is typically done with chlorine or chlorine containing compounds, which may combine with organic compounds under certain conditions to produce organocarbons, including the toxic pollutant dioxin. The inks and dyes used to make paper products also add to the toxic mix, which of course has to be dealt with when the paper is recycled.
Recycling paper, much like other manufacturing and remanufacturing processes, is not an entirely clean process. Although some paper is recycled with the inks left in place, giving the paper a grayish colouring, much of it is processed in such a way that the ink is removed to achieve a greater whiteness. “De-inking”, which is the process of taking ink out of paper, creates a sludge containing dyes, clays, inks and in some cases, PCBs, dioxins, solvents and toxic metals. It should be noted that most of these toxins are not from the de-inking itself but, rather, created during the printing and bleaching processes when that paper was originally made and inked. As a benefit, the de-inking process actually concentrates these materials so that they can be isolated and treated as hazardous waste. If ink-laden materials go to the landfill they become part of the leachate that oozes out of landfill and can pose a threat to the groundwater.
All and all, paper made from recycled content uses roughly 55% less water and 60-70% less energy than making paper from virgin pulp. The benefits of purchasing recycled paper can be further increased if an effort is made to buy those that are processed chlorine free (PCF). PCF papers, which are accredited by the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA), have not been rebleached with chlorine containing compounds and contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content, thereby reducing the overall toxicity of the papermaking process.
As for the inks, use or request soy-based inks to reduce the toxic hazards associated with the printing process, as they are much less toxic. This also has the benefit of reducing the de-inking mess when the paper goes to be recycled.
If these reasons aren’t enough to change your mind about the value of recycled paper, consider that while Canada’s beleaguered forestry sector has seen dozens of mill and plant closures in the past few years, the recycling sector has seen steady growth. It seems that these environmental and energy savings have led the paper industry to invest in building more and more recycling mills to recycle ever more millions of tons of paper each year.
De-inkly,
Ashley
Ashley Lubyk, BSc. in Environmental Science, is the founder of the Healthy Homes program at Green Calgary. Please send your environmental questions to Ashley.