Informative workshop on making paper from recycled material

Caring for the environment seems to be the trend these days. There are even Nobel Peace Prizes awarded in the field of environmental science.

I initiated my chain of environmental activities at the age of six. I have been fortunate because all my neighbouring residents and hotels engage in my recycling projects by contributing paper, cans and cartons to recycle. However, most of us wonder what happens to the material sent for recycling.

On August 24, the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) conducted a workshop that provided hands-on experience on the process of making paper from recycled beverage cartons.

The multiple-session workshop was attended by about 25 students. It demonstrated each step of making paper from recycled material. We learnt that all cartons are made mainly from paper and do not contain any wax. Refrigerated cartons also contain additional layers of plastic, while shelf-stable cartons contain supplementary layers of plastic and aluminum. The virgin fibres used to manufacture beverage cartons have maximum strength and stiffness.

This makes it easier to provide valuable raw material for new paper and board products. The new lives assumed by the used cartons are widespread: Cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, packages for consumer goods, office stationery, paper cores, etc.

We brought at least a kilogram of recyclable cartons each to the workshop. After a basic explanation about the process, we donned our gloves and aprons to begin making recycled paper.

The swirling action in the blender separates the fibre from the aluminum and plastic. The fibre then absorbs water and becomes part of a greyish-brown mixture called paper fibre or pulp. This process helps recover most of the fibre in the beverage cartons. We learnt that this is known as the pulping process.

Thereafter, we segregated the plastic and aluminum from the paper fibre, which was recovered and left with the paper fibre in a shallow vessel.

To the paper fibre was added more water so as to produce a lightweight paper. This paper can be shaped into any form. For this workshop, we decided to shape it according to an A4 size paper. This compressed and shaped paper is initially damp. It becomes ready for use after being dried under the sun.

The recycling process produces what is called ‘reincartonation’, which is a new paper product from recycled beverage cartons. This workshop took my environmental awareness to another level.

One thing that stays the same amidst all the many changes in our lives is that we live in this world and have nowhere else to go. Let’s take care of it.

The reader is a student of Millenium School, based in Dubai.