Some perspectives on the paper industry's use of waste paper

The paper industry has traditionally sought fibrous resources from trees, wood residues and waste paper. Emphasis is shifting back to waste paper after 30 yr of relative decline in recycling. Management of fiber resources by major timber holding companies is being expanded to include waste paper. In the next decade the structure of the paper industry will reflect a residuals based process technology relating to both city and forest. Recovery of waste paper can be feasible with source separation or dry separation technology. The outlook for recycling more old newspapers, old corrugated containers and mixed papers from office buildings is very good. Waste paper use in the U.S.A. will double between 1972 and 1985 from 13 million tons to 26 million tons. In addition, a world fiber supply shortage will stimulate further recovery and export of waste fibers. The energy content of paper is about 7500 Btu lb^?1, not much below that of Wyoming coal. Recovery of the energy content of paper is an integral part of current efforts to convert mixed wastes to fuel or steam. By 1990 about 50 % of the waste paper generated will be usefully recovered - about 30 % will be recycled, or exported and 20 % will be burned for its energy content.