Recycling Scenarios And Impacts Studied: Part 1

To identify the outer boundaries for paper recycling in Western Europe and its implications three different scenarios were selected under certain conditions and limitations. The three scenarios have been selected to represent the two possible extremes of recycling of paper products and a reasonable alternative, illustrating the flexibility of the recycling strategies and their environmental impacts. These scenarios may not represent realistic future visions, but they serve the primary purpose of demonstrating the sensitivity of the environmental impacts of different recycling strategies. The scenarios are as follows:

(M) Maximum and equal share of recycled fiber for all paper and board qualities.

(S) Maximum selective use of recycled fiber, with easy-to-use waste paper grades and geographical availability.

(Z) No recycling and maximum energy recovery of the fibers.

In the maximum recycling scenario (M), a certain percentage of the waste paper is assumed to be collected and used as raw material for recycled fiber forming an equal relative share of the furnish in all paper and board qualities. The collection percentage is assumed to be the highest possible (90% for most of the qualities). The assumed overall average furnish share for the reused pulp is 56% for all paper and board grades. Although, such an average furnish share is not possible today due to technological constraints, the objective of this scenario is to illustrate one of the extremes of paper recycling. The waste paper supply is assumed to be based on Western European domestic markets. Waste paper imports from other parts of the world as assumed to be minimal. Re-pulping technologies are assumed to be available, with de-inking, separation of non-fibrous materials, refining, and screening of the recycled fiber carried out to such an extent that it matches the fiber property demands of each paper quality. The disposed part of the waste paper is assumed to be incinerated (26%) or shipped to landfills (74%).