Global
Show off your knowledge of recycling paper and paperboard packaging facts with this Q&A.
Paper cups, takeout boxes, frozen food packaging and more – how much do you know about repulping and recycling paper and paperboard packaging?
Q&A
Q: What is the difference between repulpable and recyclable paper? Knowing in advance there are different methodologies in different countries, and different standards even in the same country.
A: Recyclable means to form a new paper with recovered fiber. Repulpable means that can undergo the process of fiber recovery. According to the Voluntary Standard of the Fibre Box Association (FBA) for Repulping and Recycling there is a corrugated standard to improve the paper and paperboard performance. Recyclable means used paper, including in-plant and post-consumer wastepaper and paperboard, which is capable of being processed into new paper or paperboard using the process (and it relates to the number of stickies after a screening process in the newly formed paper sheet with the recovered fiber). Repulpable means the test material can undergo the operation of re-wetting and fiberizing (related to the fiber yield recovery at least 80% based on the total weight, or 85% based on the bone-dry fiber charge to the pulper).
Q: Why is paper and cardboard packaging often sent to the landfill?
A: It's difficult to separate polyethylene from the stock paperboard in standard packaging. Polyethylene is considered a contaminant, and it is not recyclable through the paper waste stream in most paper recycling facilities. For that reason, some paper packaging is sorted out and sent to the landfill.
Q: How many tons of paper and paperboard containers and packaging are thrown out in the United States each year?
A: 41 million tons. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 41.9 million tons of paper and paperboard containers and packaging were thrown out in 2018.
Q: What are six major steps in the recycling process?
A: Pick-up, sorting, re-pulping, screening, de-inking, and creating new products. Recycling paper is a complex, multi-step process with several outside factors that affect it, such as local government policies and access to recycling markets (e.g. paper mills and plastic processors).
Q: When was the first takeout container patented?
A: 1894 - takeout packages have been around for a while. When you consider that 60 percent of today's US consumers order takeout or delivery at least once per week, it's no wonder we throw out so much packaging.
Q: True or false? The ink is removed in the paper recycling process.
A: TRUE - Any ink printed on the paper packaging is removed during the repulping and recycling process to make a new paper sheet.
Q: What is the chemical formula for polyethylene?
A: (C2H4)n - Wow, you knew that? From one group of scientists to another, nice work!