The History of Recycled Paper

If it were not for the efforts of the world’s paper recycling industries, tremendous volumes of waste paper from discarded newspapers and magazines, junk mail and printer scrap would end up in the waste stream and, thus, in local landfills and incinerators.
Approximately half of all of the paper recovered is sourced from industry and business as commercial waste. Another third of all recovered paper comes from households, with paper collection and recovery representing one of the most direct ways in which the public can participate in saving the environment. Almost any household paper can be recycled, including used newspapers, cardboard, packaging, stationery, direct mail, magazines, catalogs, greeting cards and wrapping paper.

Recycled Paper in the United States of America

Recovering waste materials for the manufacturing of paper products has long been a practice in the United States. The history of recycled paper has several major dates of importance:

• 1690: The first paper mill to use recovered linen was established by the Rittenhouse family.
• 1896: The first major recycling center was started by the Benedetto family in New York City, where they collected rags, newspaper, and trash with a pushcart.
• 1993: The first year when more paper was recycled than was buried in landfills.

In many instances, recovered paper accounts for more than half the volume of raw material used in the production of recycled content products.High recycling rates are achieved in many countries around the world. In Europe, for example, the recycled paper industry met the voluntary target of a 56% recycling rate by 2005.
Already more than six centuries old, paper recycling has grown substantially during the last few years and continues to expand. Many packaging materials, newsprint and tissues are made wholly or in part from recycled paper fiber. The recycled paper industry collects material, sorts and segregates it into various grades, bales it for ease of handling, and transports it for subsequent re-pulping.
Thanks to government incentives and industry leadership and the tireless efforts of the millions of Americans who recycle paper at home, work, and school paper recycling has reached record levels. In 2008, 57.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. This impressive figure equals 340 pounds for each man, woman, and child in America.
At the same time it should be noted that paper consumption also continues to rise and the pressures on the world’s remaining forests is formidable. And although a lot of paper is being recycled, less than 10% of the printing and writing papers being manufactured today contain post-consumer recycled content.

Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor interested in saving the environment by using GreenLine recycled paper products. “The History of Recycled Paper”outlines recycled paper facts and the impact of using recycled paper on our environment. Greenlinepaper.com is a provider of environmental paper/recycled paper products for office use & home.

Decorate Your Walkways for Guests Using Candle Luminaries

A beautiful way to welcome your guests to your home is to line a front walkway with candle luminaries. It is a lovely way to have company guided to your front door. Candle luminaries can be used in many different creative ways. Line your sidewalk, driveway, front porch, deck, yard, or pool for a decorative finishing touch. Show your guests how special they are by adding warm details to the gathering. Once the sun sets, your home will sparkle with an elegant glow using candle luminaries.

Any season or occasion is appropriate for the safe glow of luminary candles. Summer and spring outdoor events can be enhanced by their soft radiance, and citronella candles can even be used to chase away the bugs. Crisp autumn evenings, especially Halloween, are a great time to use luminaries to lead friends and Trick or Treaters to your home. Colorful, themed luminary bags are available for all seasons and holidays. Christmas and holiday luminaries are perhaps the most well known use for luminary candles, and the glow on a winter evening on your walkway brings warmth to a home. Candle luminaries can also be used for towns or businesses to decorate a lovely Main Street festival or event. Churches can also look magical decorated with luminaries, indoor or outdoor, for Christmas or a wedding.

There are many companies offer a full line of candle luminary products including lights, candles, bags, kits, and specialty items. Their extensive supply of decorative bags gives options of multiple colors and holiday themes, or the elegant classic white. These companies offer traditional candles, citronella candles, LED lights, and electric candles.

Grace Enderlein is a freelance writer and editor. “Decorate Your Walkways for Guests Using Candle Luminaries” notes the various creative ways to decorate with luminaries.LumaBase.com offers a huge selection of quality luminary products with many choices of colors and designs.

Creative Uses of Iron on Heat Transfer Paper

There are many uses for iron on heat transfer paper, and using creativity makes the final product one of a kind. Images and messages can be applied to t-shirts, sweatshirts, mouse pads, coffee mugs, puzzles, and more for group or family events, or even for the creation of a craft just for fun. There are thousands of stock images to choose from, but creating an image makes it even more exceptional.

To make a unique gift, team, or group item, iron on heat transfer paper can be used on multiple articles. A family reunion can have t-shirts with a family name and picture, or a business retreat or meeting can give away a custom coffee mug with the company logo. Field days and fairs at a school can use multicolored t-shirts or sweatshirts with team names to group the children. A special party favor could be a puzzle or mouse pad with fun images and the guest of honor’s name and the party date. Custom details make a gathering more memorable, and add to any festivity.

If coming up with a custom image is a challenge, there are stock art and typefaces available; however, creating images that are unique to an individual is very out of the ordinary. Customized artwork, graphics, or the creative use of word art put on any item with iron on heat transfer paper makes a fabulous final product. Being clever and using humor for an expression or inside joke, unique to a group or individual, can make a huge hit. Creativity is the key for a fantastic final product.

There are many experienced source available for heat transfer paper and supplies including light and dark transfer paper, heat transfer vinyl and foils, laser printer supplies, specialty papers, and heat press supplies today. They offer outstanding customer service with high quality products, on time delivery, and competitive pricing.

Grace Enderlein is a freelance writer and editor. “Creative Uses of Iron On Heat Transfer Paper” notes some examples of creative items that can be crafted using transfer paper and supplies from Tshirtsupplies.com.

Types of Recycled Paper

Recycled paper is easily accessible, usable, and affordable, and there are two kinds of recycled paper available. Pre-consumer waste is scraps from the paper mill used to make recycled paper, and post-consumer content recycled paper is made from paper that has already been used and recycled by the consumer. Using recycled paper instead of virgin forest fiber paper reduces energy consumption by 44%, net greenhouse emissions by 38%, particulate emissions by 41%, wastewater by 50%, solid waste by 49%, and wood use by 100%. Knowing the difference between post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled fibers will help purchasers make educated choices on paper products.

Paper scraps and trimmings from a paper mill are called “mill broke” and these are also known as pre-consumer content or waste. These paper scraps, which have never reached there end use, can be recycled back into paper at the mill. It is typically from printers’ trimmings or damaged paper rolls, and when mixed with water, it can be turned back into paper pulp. The paper mill can manufacture the paper pulp internally to make recycled paper.

Post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled paper is paper that has been printed on and used by consumers or commercial entities. There are different amounts of PCW used in recycled paper, and these are noted on the packaging of paper products including copy paper, letterhead, and envelopes. The Environmental Protection Agency requires a minimum of 30% PCW to allow paper to be called “recycled.” 100% post consumer waste recycled paper is readily available, and significantly more environmentally friendly.
When purchasing paper products, look for 100% PCW, as well as 100% processed chlorine free (PCF) products, both of which are clearly marked on package labeling. These standards exceed the EPA requirements, and are the best environmental choice. Chlorine-free bleaching methods avoid the production of dangerous toxic residues during the bleaching process, which pollutes rivers and streams and can be harmful to the health of wildlife and humans.

Bio: Grace Enderlein is a freelance writer and editor. “Types of Recycled Paper” notes the options available for recycled paper offered by Greenlinepaper.com. Greenlinepaper.com is a socially responsible company that features 100% post-consumer waste paper products, natural cleaning supplies, and biodegradable home products.