In general, the term recycling describes the process in which a new secondary material is generated from waste, which can again be processed into a new product. This happens by adding energy and partly through the addition of new commodities. In Germany there exists a special law (Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz) to control these regulations. Various materials and products can be recycled, like for example plastics, glass, paper, aluminium, end-of-life-vehicles, electronic products or copper.

 

Recycling of used paper has been practiced for years. The term “used paper” comprehends usually paper waste collected in private households or in business enterprises. For the production of recycled paper cardboards or other paper are used in general. Consolidated containers or collecting boxes are especially posted to collect used paper. Usually a special service group picks it up from households and enterprises and carries it to companies which process it afterwards.

 

A pioneer in the field of recycling methods for used paper was the German Justus Claproth, a professor from Göttingen. In 1774 he invented the first recycling method for used paper by completely washing out the ink from the old paper. Afterwards he produced new paper out of this..

 

The share of recycled used paper in comparison to other recyclable products and goods is relatively high. Examples for the usage of recycling paper are corrugated cardboard (up to 100%) and newspapers (about 80%). In general, recycling paper is often used in the packaging industry as packaging material. The ecological aspect of recycling paper is of great importance, too. Anyhow, this process helps to deliver less wood to the paper manufacturing industry and the environment can be relieved. Furthermore, for the production of recycled paper there is only about one third of the energy needed that is necessary for the common paper manufacture. Moreover, the required water amounts to only 15% of the whole water that is necessary for the production of new paper. And finally it should be mentioned that the stress of water amounts to only 5%.

A definite disadvantage of recycling paper is certainly that quality is often inferior to new paper which is produced of wood fibre. However, the recycling industry makes a successful effort in constantly improving this quality. Even the working properties of this paper improve increasingly and can be compared to new paper.