Every year, millions of tons of paper are consumed in Québec. Yet, a significant portion of this valuable paper material could be recycled instead of ending up in a landfill. Paper recycling is a simple, everyday action with a powerful impact. It helps conserve natural resources, reduces our environmental footprint, and cuts down on household waste. At Cascades Fluff & Tuff®, we’ve been giving paper a second life for over 60 years by transforming it into new paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels. Here’s how you can make a difference, one recycling bin at a time.
Why Recycling Paper Is Essential for the Environment
Recycling isn’t just a responsible habit; it’s a vital step toward protecting the environment. Understanding its benefits helps give meaning to every sheet of paper you drop into the bin.
Reducing the Environmental Impact of Paper Production
Producing paper and paperboard from wood pulp requires large amounts of water, energy, and chemicals. In contrast, making recycled paper consumes up to 70% less water and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin paper. It also reduces deforestation, helping preserve biodiversity and combat climate change.
When we recycle paper, we conserve resources and extend the life cycle of cellulose fibre, a key ingredient in pulp, ensuring that there’s more to go around for future generations.
Diverting Paper Waste from Landfills
Too much paper waste still ends up in municipal solid waste (MSW) streams and gets landfilled, even though paper is among the easiest materials to recover. By sorting waste correctly at home or in the office, starting with curbside recycling, it can be recovered at a local depot to ensure that it reaches materials recovery facilities, where it’s processed and redirected to a paper mill. This not only reduces methane emissions from decomposing waste but also supports local recycling initiatives and sustainable manufacturing.
What Types of Paper Can Be Recycled?
To keep the recycling process efficient, it’s important to know which items are accepted and which ones can contaminate the paper stream.
Recyclable Paper to Place in Your Blue Bin
Here’s what can typically be placed in your recycling bin:
- Newspapers, flyers, and magazines
- Office paper, printer paper, and notebooks
- Envelopes (even those with plastic windows or staples)
- Junk mail, catalogs, and circulars
- Paper packaging, kraft paper bags, and cardboard boxes
These items contain cellulose fibres that are still usable and which can be repurposed into new products, such as egg cartons, corrugated material, or even boxboard.
Non-Recyclable Paper to Keep Out
Some paper products aren’t fit for recycling due to contamination or mixed materials:
- Used toilet paper or paper towels
- Greasy or food-soiled paper (such as pizza boxes)
- Waxed, laminated, or plastic-coated paper
- Shiny gift wrap, metallic or foil paper
- Bleach-treated or overly soiled kraft paper
These items can contaminate clean scrap paper and hinder the machinery used in paper mills. Always check with your local community recycling guidelines to know what’s accepted.
Can Shredded Paper Be Recycled?
This is a common question, and the answer depends on how it’s prepared.
The Challenge with Shredded Paper
When you shred paper, you shorten the cellulose fibres, making them less suitable for pulp production. These tiny pieces can also scatter, mix with other materials, or stick to containers, complicating the recycling process.
How to Recycle It Properly
To increase the chances that your shredded paper will be accepted:
- Place it in a paper bag or cardboard box
- Label it clearly as “shredded paper”
- Avoid over-shredding if not necessary for privacy
This helps facilities collect it as part of the paper stream without it being treated as a contaminant. The longer the fibres, the more valuable they are for producing new paper products.
Recycling Paper at Home and Work: Best Practices
Adopting recycling habits at home and in the office doesn’t require a major effort, just a bit of planning.
Set Up Simple, Accessible Sorting Stations
A few ideas:
- Clearly labeled bins in key areas (kitchen, office, school)
- Separate cardboard, paper, and other recyclable materials
- Use smaller containers for ease of access and to encourage frequent sorting
Raise Awareness Among Family and Colleagues
Even a great system won’t work unless everyone uses it properly. Education is key:
- Use signs or visual guides near bins
- Share brief reminders or hold short info sessions
- Talk about the environmental benefits of recycling one ton of paper (e.g., saving 17 trees or 26,000 litres of water and reducing emissions)
Avoid Common Sorting Mistakes
Avoid placing soiled or non-recyclable items in the bin. Remove large staples, tape, or plastic bindings that could disrupt the machinery during processing. And remember: not everything labeled “paper” is automatically recyclable.
What Happens to Paper After It’s Recycled?
Once collected, paper goes through a well-orchestrated life cycle to become new products again.
The steps include:
- Collection via curbside or drop-off programs
- Sorting and classification at a materials recovery facility
- Processing into pulp
- De-inking and removal of contaminants
- Reformation into recycled paper at a paper mill
- Manufacturing into paper towels, toilet paper, textbooks, greeting cards, and more
Each step supports the sustainability of the paper industry, helping to divert paper from landfills and reduce demand for virgin wood pulp.
Cascades Fluff & Tuff®: Committed to Sustainable Paper Products
At Cascades Fluff & Tuff®, we give recycled paper fibres a second life by transforming them into essential, high-quality paper products such as tissues, paper towels, and paper packaging. Our paper towels are not only strong but also compostable* in industrial or municipal facilities.
We’re also proud to offer FSC-certified products, a mark of responsible forestry and the ethical stewardship of ecosystems. By choosing these options, consumers help shape a more sustainable future, without compromising on performance.
Paper recycling is one of the most effective and accessible ways to reduce your environmental impact. By learning to sort correctly, recognize recyclable paper, and handle materials with care, we can all help conserve natural resources.
At Cascades Fluff & Tuff®, we believe that every action matters. Together, let’s turn used paper and cardboard into the new paper products of tomorrow.
*These products are suitable for composting in industrial and municipal facilities only. Home composting is not recommended. Availability of facilities may vary by region.
