RECYCLABILITY ASSESSMENT OF PAPER AND BOARD PACKAGES AS WELL AS OF GRAPHIC PAPERS

The implied demand in current waste management legislation calling for intensified waste paper recycling can only be met if the design of paper and board products is no longer based on functional aspects alone (protective function, publicity value, etc.) but to an increasing extent also on recyclability criteria. Since waste paper utilization remains essentially restricted to the paper manufacturing industry, mill experts are called upon to formulate the criteria to be met by recyclable packages. In addition, test methods have to be developed and introduced which allow an objective assessment of the recycling behaviour of paper and board products. In the last 18 months, a subcommittee of the ZELLCHEMING Technical Committee XVI for waste paper utilization has intensively dealt with the subject The product recyclability criteria established by this committee are focused on the defibration behaviour of a product, potential sheet forming problems, waste amounts to be expected in the treatment plant as well as potential influences on whitewater and effluent qualities.