Residual Mixed Wastepaper: Supply and Use, 1996 Engineering Conference Proceedings

There is a large supply of recovered paper that is relatively untapped. This is residential mixed wastepaper (RMP). RMP could well be the last frontier in recovering wastepaper. While this supply is large, the percent collected is relatively low. The problem with this grade of recovered paper is the difficulty to collect it, the variability of content and its cleanliness. These problems result in the need for high quality cleaning systems. These systems have to remove all manner of material from the fiber stream. This includes: large items like nuts and bolts, non-pulpable material like yogurt containers and large chunks of plastic film, smaller dirt such as floor sweepings, and then the normal small dirt found in most recovered paper. This wide variety of contaminates requires additional technology to yield an acceptable papermaking fiber. Development of new and redesign of old recovered fiber systems must take into account changes in the way people live. New technologies in the home, like personal computers and offices in the home, result in composition changes in discarded material. Future technology needs in the paper mill must reflect the changes taking place if residential mixed wastepaper is to be used successfully.