Future for Reclaimed Fiber or Change is Constant, 1997 Recycling Symposium Proceedings

As a trained historian, I have learned that it helpful to set the stage of current and future discussions by looking backwards. But not too far. Let us look at 1989. The “Green” movement was in full force. Many companies and individuals were looking for politically correct avenues to proclaim their “greeness” and hopeful attract new customers or at least retain the current crop.

Paper with recycled content was in vogue. Far more demand than capacity to produce. People were willing to put up with vagaries of qualities and premium pricing. The only product available to incorporate into paper furnishes was wet lap blocks about one cubic yard made from sometimes postconsumer product and somewhat cleaned and whitened to about 80 GE bright. This was done with then state of the art technology.

Into this maelstrom came newer technology. The pro forma for the newest technologies expected to improve the brightness levels by 2+ points while digging deeper into the waste stream to utilize what was then a no-value waste product--Mixed Offtce Waste [MOW]. From this “sow’s ear” , the new technology would develop the “silk purse”. A whiter, brighter, cleaner product readily compatible with the highest of the Printing/Writing [P/W] grades would be produced.