HOW COULD WE RECYCLE WASTE PAPER?

HOW COULD WE RECYCLE WASTE PAPER?

Nobody seems to be paying enough attention to the recycling of waste paper. Perhaps this is because paper is biodegradable anyway. But I think we are missing the bigger picture.

What about the recovery value of waste paper? What about its potential to create jobs, generate new businesses, and contribute to the circular economy? Even if paper eventually decomposes, it can still occupy valuable space in landfills and dumpsites for years before it breaks down.

More importantly, every ton of recycled paper means fewer trees cut down to make new paper products. According to environmental studies, recycling one ton of paper can save around 17 mature trees, thousands of gallons of water, and significant amounts of electricity. That is not a small contribution to environmental protection.

I have been monitoring technological trends and breakthroughs on the internet, and I have observed that many companies abroad are transforming waste paper into products with real economic value. Some are converting it into charcoal briquettes, while others are using paper pulp to manufacture construction materials and even temporary housing components.

For whatever it is worth, I think there is tremendous potential in turning waste paper into charcoal briquettes. Many low-income families still struggle with the rising cost of LPG. Affordable paper-based briquettes could become a cheaper alternative for cooking fuel while simultaneously reducing waste.

The technology is simple. Waste paper can be shredded, soaked, converted into pulp, and mixed with carbonized rice husk, sawdust, or coconut shell powder. The paper pulp serves as a low-cost binder. The resulting briquettes can be molded and sun-dried for household use or for commercial establishments such as barbecue stalls, lechon outlets, and samgyupsal restaurants.

This could become an ideal cottage industry.

Imagine the livelihood opportunities that could be created if barangays, cooperatives, and materials recovery facilities collected waste paper and converted it into fuel products. Since the raw materials cost almost nothing, the value added comes from labor, innovation, and community organization.

I am also fascinated by the idea of converting paper waste into construction materials. Paper-crete, a mixture of paper pulp and cement, is already being used in some countries for non-load-bearing walls, acoustic panels, and insulation materials. Considering our huge housing backlog, perhaps this technology deserves serious study, particularly for socialized housing projects.

Generally speaking, however, I believe that the highest-value use of waste paper may be in replacing plastic packaging.

One classic example is the biodegradable egg tray made from paper pulp. This technology has existed for decades. If it worked before, why can't it work now?

I have also noticed that online sellers use an excessive amount of plastic packaging. Bubble wrap, plastic envelopes, and multiple layers of synthetic packaging have become the norm. If proper research and development are undertaken, much of this could be replaced with molded paper products made from recycled waste paper.

The answer, therefore, is not merely to collect waste paper. The answer is to treat waste paper as a valuable raw material.

I believe every city and municipality should establish paper recovery centers linked to their materials recovery facilities. These centers could supply paper feedstock to microenterprises producing briquettes, packaging materials, handicrafts, and construction products.

Waste paper is not simply garbage waiting to decompose. It is an untapped resource waiting to create jobs, save trees, reduce landfill volumes, and generate new industries.

In a country where we are always looking for livelihood opportunities and affordable green technologies, perhaps the humble piece of discarded paper is worth much more than we imagine.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres  iseneres@yahoo.com  senseneres.blogspot.com  09088877282/07-19-2027

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