Volume 2, Number 5
Dec 1989

Recycled Paper

• The Australian government was urged last month by the Department of Administrative Services to make more use of recycled paper. The Department wants as much 100% recycled paper to be used as possible, but admits that the applications for paper made of 50 to 80% recycled fiber are likely to be greater, because recycled fibers are too weak for some uses. Its report calls on the government to develop standards for recycled paper, and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of using deinked paper and paper made from chlorine-free pulp. (Recycled paper is on the market in small amounts now, but at prices about 25% higher than for ordinary paper.)
• Cross Pointe has a new alkaline recycled paper for text and cover, Normandie, in 10 pale colors plus white. Four of then are flecked with darker fibers. All but two have a linen finish. Rolls as well as small-size ream are available, and envelopes are available through local Williamhouse merchants.
• The fact that Americans have been more eager to recycle (i.e. collect) old newspapers than to use them up in new products has created a glut and driven down the price of recycled newsprint. This, plus the fact that paper prices are through going up for a while, and will now go down for a couple of years, must be the reason that Kenaf International postponed the building of its first commercial-scale plant in Texas. It was to have been used for making newsprint. So, ironically, one good thing (recycling) is preventing the development of another (kenaf pulp and paper made from it). Kenaf, with its low lignin content, might be good for making permanent paper for printing and writing. Any information about new developments in this direction would be welcome for this Newsletter. (But the copy of the Bakersfield Californian in the Newsletter office, printed an kenaf paper, turns a dark magenta when tested for lignin with a drop of phloroglucinol, so it must contain plenty of lignin. Then why does it still look and feel new? It was printed in July 1987, and has been lying around this office for months.)
• Preservation Wove business length envelopes (also in a variety of other sizes) are both alkaline and recycled: 507, recycled fiber from postconsumer waste. The paper is from Nekoosa but the envelopes should be ordered through Niagara Envelope Group, Inc. (693 Seneca St., Buffalo, NY 142101395, 716/854-8204; or see local telephone book).
• Savings WP 50 DP, a new recycled grade, was recently introduced by Hammermill Papers. It is a premium-#4 grade that meets the guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency for minimum reclaimed content. The cryptic name means "Saving landfill space; a minimum Waste Paper content of 50%.; a Dual Purpose sheet," for both low and high-speed xerographic copiers and laser printers, and small offset duplicators.
• Four more companies that make alkaline recycled paper are listed in a handout from E.H. Pechan (pron. pek'n) & Associates, Inc., 5537 Hempstead Way, Springfield, VA 22151 (703/642-1120). Pechan is an environmental consulting firm. The companies are:

Appleton Papers (Wisc.) - 414/735-8810. They make carbonless with 507 waste paper content.

Riverside Paper Company (Wisc.) - 414/733-5546. "Ecology" bond. All their white papers are now alkaline. Formerly called the Kerwin Paper Co.; they answer the phone "Amricon-Riverside."

Potsdam Paper Mills (NY) - 315/265-4000. Sales through local broker/vendor - special orders only. Opaque offset, writing, book grades with 40% minimum waste paper content.

Eastern Fine Paper (Me.) - 800/341-1750. Offset, mimeo, writing and high speed copier paper. (Pechan's list does not explicitly say that all these grades contain recycled fiber; inquire.)

• Among the documents that Pechan will send out on request are the following:

Procurement Guideline for Paper and Paper Products
Overview - Paper Guideline
Printing and Writing Mill List
Paper Distributors List
Buying Recycled Paper (A Primer)

• In November, Nekoosa Papers introduced an alkaline recycled paper called Ardor Recycle Xero/Bond, made with 50%. recycled pulp, most of which is recycled deinked waste papers. It also includes some mill broke, in the form of paper that has passed the winder. So Nekoosa's name should be added to the list published in the last issue. Their telephone number in Wisconsin is 715/887-5500.