Paper Recycling: Regulatory and Real-Life Barriers, 1993 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Paper recycling is a necessity in many communities. This paper reviews the history of paper fiber recycling, including the many barriers to its success. Recycling and de-inking plants, viable in the late 196Os, were uneconomical and impractical to operate after the Clean Water Act. Other alternatives to landtilling of used paper goods have been attempted, such as collection and processing to Refuse-Derived Fuel. Successful alternatives to land disposal all depend upon two critical components, source separation and the location of the recovered resource. If source separation fails, there are adverse effects on recovered fiber quality. If the recovered fiber is too far from the potential customer (such that transportation costs and environmental impacts consume the net fiber recycling benefit), then recycling fails.

The author outlines the key elements in a successful recycling program and reviews some of the barriers. He recommends a cost comparison between recycling and other disposal options before undertaking a fiber recycling program.