February 04, 2025
How Can You Recycle Paper?
Recycling paper is one of the easiest ways to help make a positive impact on the planet, but do you know how it works or why it’s so important?
Read on to uncover the benefits of paper recycling, the process behind it, and how businesses and you can take part. Plus, find out how secure paper shredding ties into recycling and contributes to a greener future!
Why Is It Important to Recycle Paper?
Recycling paper is essential for protecting the environment by conserving natural resources, reducing landfill waste, and lowering energy consumption. It also helps to minimise deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future.
For businesses, paper recycling offers financial benefits by reducing waste management costs and promoting more efficient use of resources. Additionally, adopting sustainable practices can enhance a company’s reputation, appeal to eco-conscious customers, and align with corporate social responsibility goals. Recycling is not just good for the planet—it’s good for business too.
5 Benefits of Paper Recycling
Recycling paper is not just a responsible choice for the environment, it also offers numerous advantages for businesses. From reducing costs to boosting sustainability efforts, here are some key benefits:
- Cost Savings: Recycling paper reduces waste disposal costs, helping businesses save money while managing resources more efficiently.
- Environmental Impact: By recycling, businesses contribute to conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting a greener planet.
- Improved Reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability enhances brand image and attracts eco-conscious customers and partners.
- Regulatory Compliance: Recycling helps businesses meet environmental regulations and waste management standards, avoiding potential penalties.
- Workplace Sustainability: Promoting recycling within the workplace fosters a culture of responsibility and encourages employees to adopt eco-friendly practices.
The Recycling Process: How Is Paper Recycled?
Recycling paper turns used material into reusable products.
Let’s see how it works:
- Collection: Used paper is collected from businesses, households, or recycling bins and transported to a recycling facility.
- Sorting: The paper is sorted by type and quality to ensure the recycling process is efficient and effective.
- Shredding & Pulping: The sorted paper is shredded and mixed with water to create a slurry, breaking it down into fibres.
- Cleaning & De-Inking: The slurry is cleaned to remove contaminants like staples or glue, and ink is removed through a de-inking process.
- Pressing & Drying: The clean pulp is pressed into sheets and dried, forming recycled paper ready for manufacturing new products.
What Paper Cannot Be Recycled?
Not all paper can be recycled, as some types are contaminated or treated with materials that disrupt the recycling process.
Here are common examples:
Greasy or Soiled Paper: Items like pizza boxes or napkins with food residues cannot be recycled.
Wax-Coated Paper: Paper with a waxy surface, such as some food packaging, is not recyclable.
Tissue Paper: Soft, thin papers like tissues or toilet paper are often too degraded to be recycled.
Laminated Paper: Paper mixed with plastic layers, such as certain packaging or photo paper, is unsuitable for recycling.
Paper with Glitter or Foil: Items like greeting cards with glitter, foil, or metallic designs disrupt recycling.
For a detailed guide on what paper can and cannot be recycled, visit the national recycling campaign, Recycle Now.
Why Use Recycling Paper?
Recycled paper is a practical choice for businesses and individuals looking to reduce their environmental impact. By using recycled paper, natural resources are conserved, energy consumption is reduced, and less waste ends up in landfills, promoting a sustainable future.
For example, a business can switch to recycled paper for office printing and marketing materials, showcasing its commitment to sustainability while potentially lowering costs. On an individual level, choosing recycled paper notebooks or greeting cards is a simple way to support eco-friendly practices and reduce waste.
By making these small but meaningful changes, businesses and individuals contribute to a greener planet for future generations.
Traditional Recycling vs. Secure Shredding
While traditional paper recycling plays a vital role in sustainability, it may leave sensitive information exposed during the recycling process. On the other hand, secure shredding and recycling addresses this vulnerability by protecting confidential information while supporting environmental efforts.
Here’s why shredding confidential documents before recycling is crucial:
1. Data Security
Documents placed in traditional recycling bins often remain unsecured, potentially exposing sensitive information at multiple stages, from collection to transportation. By using a locked console and shredding the contents, businesses ensure that confidential information is destroyed before recycling, reducing the risk of data breaches.
2. Compliance with Regulations
Secure shredding helps businesses comply with data protection regulations, such as GDPR, by safeguarding personal and confidential information from unauthorised access.
3. Seamless Integration with Recycling
Shredded paper is baled and sent directly to paper mills for reuse, maintaining confidentiality while contributing to sustainability goals and the circular economy.
4. Proof of Secure Destruction
Professional shredding services, like Shred-it, provide a certificate of destruction, offering peace of mind and demonstrating your commitment to security and environmental responsibility.
For more details, explore Shred-it’s infographic on traditional recycling versus secure shredding. This is an engaging way of showing your organisation the importance of having a good system in place, ensuring peace of mind.
How Paper Shredding Helps With Paper Recycling
Integration of professional paper shredding services into your recycling efforts help make sure that your confidential documents are securely destroyed before being recycled. This process protects sensitive information and supports environmental sustainability.
Shred-it's secure document destruction process involves collecting documents in locked consoles, securely shredding them on-site or at a secure facility. The shredded paper is then baled and sent to the paper mill to be recycled. This method maintains confidentiality while contributing to recycling goals.
For a detailed overview of this process, read Shred-it's Lifecycle of a Document infographic.
By partnering with Shred-it, businesses can confidently manage sensitive information and uphold their commitment to environmental
