First paper is sorted at Allied Waste's Recycling Center, where machinery and workers remove contaminants, such as plastic bags and pizza boxes. Next the paper is separated into different grades.
Once the paper is sorted, it is sent through a baler, which forms the material into easily transportable bales, about 2 cubic yards in size and weighing approximately 1,000 pounds each!
Allied Waste then ships the bales to buyers, including domestic and overseas pulping mills.
At the mill, the paper is soaked to form a pulp. The pulp is filtered to remove impurities such as coatings, additives, fillers and loose ink particles. Finally, ink is removed using chemicals and air bubbles. At this point, chemical brighteners and/or decolorizers may be added.
Lastly, new paper products are created, usually by combining the recycled pulp with "virgin" pulp. Examples include cereal boxes, paper bags and copier paper.
