Page 50 - E-Learning Modul ESD

Recycling can make scarce resources last for longer, and can reduce the energy requirements
of industry. It takes only 5% of the energy to make an aluminium can from recycled aluminium
than from aluminium ore. People and companies will only recycle, however, if:
their products are cheaper than if they don't use recycling
governments give subsidies for manufacturing products from recycled materials.

Recycling of paper
Paper is one of the easiest materials to recycle. It is collected from our kerbside or recycling

banks by local authorities and waste management companies.

After the paper is collected there are several steps in the recycling process.
First it is sorted, graded and delivered to a paper mill. As it is sorted, contaminants such as
plastic, metal, and other rubbish that may have been collected with the paper are removed.
Once at the paper mill, it is added to water and then turned into pulp.
The paper is then screened, cleaned and de-inked through a number of processes until it is
suitable for papermaking. Cleaning and de-inking may use hazardous chemicals: hydrogen
peroxide is often used to help bleach the paper when dark inks are present.
Once the pulp has been rinsed, it is spread onto large flat racks, and rollers press the water
out of the pulp. As it dries, new paper forms.
It is then ready to be made into new paper products such as newsprint, cardboard,
packaging, tissue and office items.

It can take just seven days for a newspaper to go through the recycling process and be
transformed into recycled newsprint which is used to make the majority of national daily
newspapers.

41 Learning Module Organisms and Their Environment | Class 11