Paper Recycling in New York City: How It Works

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Although the rise of computer technology has encouraged many to go paperless, paper still makes up a large chunk of the trash that is produced everyday. In order to improve the city's recycling efforts and reduce the amount of paper that ends up in landfills, paper recycling has been mandatory in New York City since 1989. But what happens to the paper after we've done our part and put in the recycling bin? We'll tell you!

According to NY1, paper pickups in New York City start at 6 a.m when roll call takes place at each of the 59 Sanitation district garages. After being given their assignments, drivers and their partners take out their trucks and begin to travel through New York City neighborhoods, collecting the paper that is put out for recycling. Once drivers have completed their routes across Manhattan, all of the paper winds up at the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station on the Hudson river. From there, the paper is emptied into barges which transfer it to a private recycling facility located on Staten Island.

After the paper has reached the Pratt Industries Staten Island Paper Mill, employees work to remove any additional items that may have ended up in the trucks, i.e metal. After the materials are sorted the paper goes into a pulper machine where hot water breaks down the paper's fibers. Once this step is complete, the pulp-like mixture that is made passes through a variety of other machines where it is cleaned, dried and recreated into new sheets of paper!

While the end result of the recycling process is new paper, the recycling plant actually transforms all of the recycled materials into boxes for companies such as Home Depot and Kraft.

For more information on paper recycling in New York City, click here.

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help you in your recycling efforts, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news in recycling efforts and eco-friendly tips.