Paper Recycling
December 8, 2008 by Zero Waste Singapore
Filed under Recycle
Paper is one of the most common types of waste in Singapore and 1.26 million tonnes of paper waste was generated in 2013. The recycling rate of paper is 54% in 2013, and most of this paper waste is sorted, baled and exported overseas for recycling as there are no paper recycling mills in Singapore.
Let’s take a closer look at paper recycling:
1. Types of Paper for Recycling
The different types of paper waste are collected and usually separated into the following categories for recycling.
- Newspapers
- Corrugated cardboard
- Magazines
- White office paper
- Mixed paper
2. Why Recycle Paper
There are environmental benefits to paper recycling. According to Waste Online:
Producing recycled paper involves between 28 – 70% less energy consumption than virgin paper and uses less water. This is because most of the energy used in papermaking is the pulping needed to turn wood into paper.
Recycled paper produces fewer polluting emissions to air (95% of air pollution) and water. Recycled paper is not usually re-bleached and where it is, oxygen rather than chlorine is usually used. This reduces the amount of dioxins which are released into the environment as a by-product of the chlorine bleaching processes.
3. The Paper Recycling Process
At the paper recycling plant, sorted paper goes into a pulper where they are washed and screened to remove unwanted items like metals and plastics. The paper pulp then undergoes a floatation process to remove inks and adhesives. The resulting paper slurry is spread on wire meshes and drained of water using rollers to form sheets of paper.
Watch this animation video on the paper recycling process from RecycleBank:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWH1Mg8gdic[/youtube]
4. Recycled Paper Products
Paper waste such as white office paper, corrugated cartons and newspapers can be recycled back to its original use. Magazines, mixed paper, newspapers and corrugated cartons are recycled as cardboards, toilet papers, paper towels, egg cartons, kraft paper, etc.
Watch how toilet paper is made from recycled paper:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrg_6dny6Po[/youtube]
5. Paper Recycling in Singapore
In Singapore, about 1.26 million tonnes of paper waste was generated in 2013 and the recycling rate is 54%. Paper waste is usually collected through the recycling programmes and traditionally by the karang guni men, waste paper collectors and traders.
The paper waste are sorted by type, baled or placed in containers, and exported overseas for recycling as there are no paper recycling mills in Singapore.
6. Collectors, Traders and Recycling Companies for Paper
To find a recycling collector or someone who wants your paper waste, check out NEA’s list of collectors and traders.
For companies, you can use the online business waste exchange, Waste is not Waste, to find someone who wants your waste.
7. What Can I Do
You can recycle paper through the various recycling programmes at home, in school and your office, or through the public recycling bins. But before you do so, remember to Reduce and Reuse your paper waste.
Does anyone know what exactly the garanguni man does with the old newspaper? Will he trade it in for recycling?
Cheers,
Patrick
Yes, they will sell the newspapers to a recycling collector for export
Hi, I live around Joo Chiat area. The karang guni around here prefer to collect only newspaper. They reject corrugated paper carton and mixed paper waste (mostly junk mails). How can we find someone who is willing to collect all types of paper ?
Hi Aquene, use the existing recycling programmes in your estate (if any), or use the public recycling bins located at most MRT stations and at housing estates (http://www.zerowastesg.com/our-initiatives/map-of-recycling-bins/).
How do i get rid of my debit card/telco bill papers properly via recycling without compromising my details?
Hi Eugene,
I have 4 cartons of mixed paper waste at home waiting to be collected. I am not sure if I will be using up more fuel to bring these cartons to a nearby public recyclng bin or to wait for a willing karang guni.
You see, I counted there are at least 3 to 4 different karang guni driving around the area in their lorries. By going around, they are also consuming fuel and emitting exhaust gas. Should there be just one so that here is no overlapping and waste ?
May I suggest a new initiative: that we build a database of karang guni. We should help them to plan the area each of them serve, and probably the schedule and route to take. Resident can go to a website to indicate they have something to be collected so that the karang guni in that area will visit the house and collect.
Hi Aquene, the karang gunis are not regulated by NEA, which is why there can be multiple groups serving the same area. This also means it’s difficult to build a database when anyone can be a karang guni.
Hi, Eugene:
My company wants to study use photocopy paper that made from recycled paper. And I tried to ask some paper suppliers, they do not have recycled paper made photocopy paper. So do you know any companies in Sigapore are selling photocopy paper that made from recycled paper.
Thank you.
Hi Yanjun, you can find the companies providing recycled paper in the list of Green Label products http://www.sec.org.sg/awards/greenlabel/buygreen.
Thanks, Eugene.
Hello. Me and my friends joined a Clean and Green fashion competition. We decided to use only paper as our materials. Im just wondering, when we have cut and paste the papers (mostly white office and mahjong paper) and make it into a dress, can it still be recycled? And where can we get affordable plain white recycled papers for this project?
Recycling is very very important in order to preserve mother earth.`’`
we should always think about recycling our waste products to help the environment.~;~
Hi Eugene, I am a Singaporean staying overseas. Just want to check do you have any ideas which are the company that are the recycling collector and will buy in the all the used news paper? And if I am interested in this business, where can I sell them too. Please advice.. Thanks
Hi Patrick, you can refer to the list of paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx
recycling is very important these days because we have lots of pollution..”
hi, can anyone tell me where is the higher rate of selling old newspaper in singapore?? which place, i find the higher rate now at amk park 2, 0.26 cents per KG.
Hi Johnson, you may wish to check with the paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx.
recycling is very necessary so that we could reduce the waste that we dump on our environment;~’
I think is good to recyle paper.
The way it works,is really amazing !
I just can’t believe it..
I want to export waste news paper to chennai.what i need to do
how much 1ton.i need every months 100 to 200 tonns.pls advise me. i am singapore pr i am living in singaopre 14 years.
Hi Kathiravan, you may wish to check with the paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx.
Hi, my name is Samuel. Currently i’m planning to set up a business that collects unwanted papers and exports them to other countries that have papers recycling mills. I would like to ask some advice from you regarding the ways of exporting these waste papers. Thank!
Hi, I am currently involve in the paper recycling programme in my company. I understand the rule requires company to engage a licensed collector, and to record the recycled quantity.
It is o.k to give the paper to karang guni instead of licensed collector?
@Goh Hay Leng, not sure which rule you’re referring to. You may wish to engage the paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx
Any gd intro which recycle paper company got export to malaysia kl
@Tay Wei Kian, you can check with the paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx
where do i need to sell the old newspaper or cans for cash?as for what i known is that karang guni man oni give a few cents.i want to earn more for my family
@Casline, you may wish to check with the collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx.
Hi,
We have some A4,A3 & A1 papers & Carton boxes to sell it away…Will you be coming to collect to Kallang Stadium site office.
If yes pls reply to my email.
Thank you.
Regards,
Vasanthi
Inquiry of various grades of Waste paper, Wood Pulp and Paper Stock lots.
Dear Sirs,
In Bangladesh we are one of a trading and procurement house of Waste paper and we are holding the following inquiries :
1. Hard White Shaving – 500 Mt
2. Shorted White Ledger (SWL) – 800 Mt
3. Hard White Envelope Cutting (HWEC) – 300 Mt
4. Old Corrugated Cartoon (OCC) – 300 Mt
5. Old News Paper (ONP) – 500 Mt
6. Old Magazine – 300 Mt
7. Bleached Hardwood Kraft Pulp (BHWKP) – 1000 Mt
8. Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp (BSWKP) – 1000 Mt
9. Stock lots of Newsprint, White paper, Duplex Board, Liner paper, Tissue paper etc.
We require your best and net offer only to C&F Chittagong, Bangladesh basis and with us you will get right price of the market and the day to day feedback of the market.
Waiting your valued reply with your offer based on your available stocks..
Regards,
Aynul Kabir
Eurasia Trading Co.
Bangladesh
Tel : 880-2-8399771, 8399772, 8399787
Fax : 880-2-8399787
Mob : 880-1713-291042, 880-1842-291042
Skype : eurasiabd
E mail : eurasia@eurasiabd.net
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i have about 5-7 kg of paper in th form of old books and printed paper that i wish to get rid of. is there any way i can sell it for some money? other than the karang guni.
@anon, you may wish to check with the paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx.
How much will I receive , if I have aleast 1 ton of old newspaper . Interested in collecting it and sell it .. At least I save the enviroment and at the same time earn cash .
I am interested in buying old news paper.
Hi, was just wondering if there was a recycling bin that collects any paper related items eg:cardboard, junk mails, used paper and is located just below your block, would you all be more encouraged to recycle them?
hello.burraq enterprises is anew company interested in purchasing
different types of waste especially in paper waste we have a very good market for paper waste up 20 to 30 containers(40 Ft)/month.so pl show us your offer of different types/quality of paper waste/kg c&f karachi pakistan.thanks
Hi, I have hundred (may up to thousand) empty moon-cake box ready for sell. Anyone interested?
Hello everyong,
are you interested in baler machine for waste paepr, cardboard ? are you interested in to be our agents? if yes, please send messgage to me my email is sales@hellobaler.com
Hi,
My office wants to recycle monthly, but were wondering if there are collectors available?
We carry the recyclables every week, but its extremely heavy as we waste a lot of paper. We end up carrying boxes and boxes of just paper. Along with plastic bottles and cans.
Can anyone help to point us in the right direction? we are in the city area.
Thanks
My company is engagued in buying newspaper waste only small butt reels and tear off paper for India. If you have any information and offer me on regual basis,please reply.
Ashok Gupta,
Ashoke International
Kolkata,INDIA
9831071808(M)
I am living in pakistan and i am in search of waste paper in different shape to import it from singapore specifically used magazines , yellow paper books and other used papers,can you suggest me what person i have contact to fullfill my need on competitive price and other shipping issues,,please advice me
While I recycle a lot, it is difficult to find products made from recycled material in Singapore. Any idea Where one can one buy recycled toilet paper and kitchen towels in Singapore?
Hi there, I am enquiring if there is any service that is without charge that will collect papers (shredded and in whole sheets) from a company?
Kindly advise me. Thanks.
Hi Teresa,
So happy to have chanced upon your thread in this forum! We are happy to share with you that we do paper waste collection in bulk without charge, as we are focused on the environmental impact of going green. We are more than happy to liase with you if you were still keen to look into this.
Our company, BigMammal, is based in recycling and my contact is as follows, hope to speak with you should you be keen to take this further! Cheers.
Warm regards,
Poh Le Xiang
bigmammal.co@gmail.com
+65 9791 0907
Hi, i wish to buy used newspaper can you tell me where to buy?
i have 600 over cartons of comics books for sales.
carosell is some listing.
anyone who has network to sell all ?
can contact me : kuangleslie@gmail.com