Recycled paper does not disappear after you drop it in the bin. A mill washes it, screens out ink and contaminants, breaks it back into pulp, and reforms that pulp into new products. The most common uses for recycled paper are tissue and toilet paper, cardboard and paperboard packaging, newspapers and magazines, napkins and paper towels, office and printing paper, greeting cards, building insulation, and pet bedding.
About 68% of paper in the United States was recycled as of 2021, which keeps millions of tonnes of fibre in circulation instead of landfill. Here is where that fibre actually ends up.
Table of Contents
Recycled paper products at a glance
Most recycled paper falls into six product families. The table below groups the main uses, the products they become, and where you are likely to see them.
| Use | Typical products | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Tissue and hygiene | Toilet paper, facial tissue, napkins, paper towels | Homes, offices, public washrooms |
| Packaging | Cardboard boxes, paperboard cartons, egg trays | Shipping, groceries, food packaging |
| Print media | Newspapers, magazines, catalogues | News stands, mailboxes |
| Stationery and office | Greeting cards, notebooks, office and printing paper | Shops, schools, offices |
| Construction | Cellulose insulation, soundproofing, drywall facing | Walls and ceilings |
| Animal care | Pet and small-animal bedding | Pet stores, farms |
Tissue, toilet paper and other hygiene products
Tissue and toilet paper are among the largest end uses for recycled paper. After the fibre reaches the mill, processors rinse it several times to strip out ink and dye, then sanitise and re-form it into soft, absorbent sheets.
Some tissue is bleached to look white, but you can also find naturally coloured, unbleached options. Napkins and paper towels come from the same recycled stream, in plain versions and in printed designs. Choosing products labelled as recycled keeps demand for recovered fibre high, and the recycled content is usually stated on the packaging.
Cardboard and paperboard packaging
Cardboard is one of the most visible uses for recycled paper. Recovered fibre goes into shipping boxes, retail packaging, cereal and cracker cartons, egg trays, and the paperboard bags used in grocery stores.
When you order something online, the box is very often made with a high share of recycled content. Not every carton is recycled, so look at the underside or the label if you want to be sure. When you are finished with any cardboard, flatten it and put it back in the recycling bin so the fibre can be used again.
Newspapers, magazines and catalogues
A large share of newsprint and magazine stock is made from recycled paper. Publishers often blend recycled fibre with fresh pulp to balance cost, strength and print quality.
Not every title states its recycled content on the page, though many do inside the cover. If it matters to you, the publisher can usually confirm the grade of paper they use. Once you have finished reading, newspapers and magazines go straight back into the paper stream, where the balers used at recycling centres compress recovered newsprint for the next mill.
Greeting cards, notebooks and office paper
Recycled paper is a staple of stationery. It becomes greeting cards, gift tags, notebooks, envelopes, and the printing and copier paper used in offices and schools.
Office and copier paper is one of the easiest grades to recycle, since it is clean, simple to collect and quick to re-pulp. On greeting cards and packs of paper, the recycled content is usually printed on the back, so you can confirm it before you buy.
Building insulation and construction materials
Recycled paper has a second life in construction. Cellulose insulation, much of it made from recycled newsprint, is blown into walls and lofts to slow heat loss and dampen sound.
Using recovered fibre this way cuts the cost and the raw material needed for new insulation and boards. Manufacturers state the recycled content on the packaging or in the technical sheet, so builders can check the grade before installing it.
Pet and animal bedding
Recycled paper is widely used for pet and small-animal bedding, including bedding for hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. It is often combined with straw to create a soft, absorbent layer.
The paper does not need to be new. It goes through a separate cleaning and sanitising process that leaves it hygienic, then it is shredded or pelleted for comfort. Research on animal housing supports clean recycled paper products as a practical bedding material.
How many times can paper be recycled?
Paper can be recycled about five to seven times before the fibres become too short to bond into strong new sheets. Each pass through the mill shortens the fibre a little.
Once fibres are too short for printing or packaging grades, they are not wasted. They usually move into lower-grade products such as tissue, moulded pulp trays and insulation, which is why recovered paper keeps finding new uses right to the end of its life.
Recycled paper is all around you
From the toilet paper in the bathroom to the cereal box in the kitchen, the newspaper on the table and the birthday card on the shelf, recycled paper is part of everyday life. Every one of those products started as fibre that someone placed in a recycling bin.
If you want to turn collected paper and cardboard into clean, transport-ready bales, contact us at Anis about the baling and recycling machinery that fits your operation.
Frequently asked questions about recycled paper
What can recycled paper be used for?
Recycled paper is used to make tissue and toilet paper, cardboard and paperboard packaging, newspapers and magazines, napkins and paper towels, office and printing paper, greeting cards, cellulose insulation and pet bedding. The same fibre can move from higher grades such as office paper down to tissue and insulation as it is recycled again.
What can recycled paper be turned into at home?
At home, recycled paper can be pulped and pressed into homemade cards, gift tags, seed paper and papier-mache. Shredded paper also works as compost material and as bedding for small pets, as long as it is free of glossy coatings and heavy ink.
Can all paper be recycled?
Most office paper, newspaper, magazines and cardboard can be recycled. Paper that is heavily soiled, waxed, laminated or coated with plastic, such as greasy pizza boxes or wax-lined cups, usually cannot go in the paper stream because the contaminants damage the pulp.
Why use products made from recycled paper?
Recycled paper products keep fibre in use for longer, reduce demand for fresh wood pulp, and cut the energy and water needed to make new paper. Choosing them supports the collection and recycling system that keeps paper out of landfill.