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Toxic Releases from Paper Made with Recovered Wastepaper versus Virgin Wood Fiber: A Research Note
1Environmental Studies Board, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA
Environmental Management
|September 1, 1996
Summary
Paper mills using recycled paper significantly reduced toxic releases compared to virgin wood fiber mills. This highlights recycling
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Ecology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Paper production relies heavily on either virgin wood fiber or recovered wastepaper.
- Both processes have environmental impacts, including toxic chemical releases.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for effective environmental policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare toxic releases between paper mills using recovered wastepaper and those using virgin wood fiber.
- To assess the environmental benefits of recycling beyond resource conservation.
- To inform environmental policy regarding paper production and wastepaper utilization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data from 79 paper mills spanning 1987-1992.
- Compared average releases (kilograms per metric ton) for specific toxic chemicals.
- Analyzed trends in releases between the two mill types and over time.
Main Results:
- Both mill types showed decreased toxic releases from 1987 to 1992.
- Mills using recovered wastepaper consistently reported significantly lower releases across all measured categories.
- Key chemicals compared included chlorine, chloroform, acids, volatile organics, and ammonia.
Conclusions:
- Recycling paper offers substantial environmental advantages by reducing toxic releases.
- Environmental policies should prioritize increasing demand for recycled paper and improving wastepaper infrastructure.
- Focusing solely on end-of-pipe pollution abatement is insufficient; promoting recycling is key.