Recycling paper

In this page we’ll try to explain the different steps to recycle paper and different kind of natural material to produce paper. This manual has been produced after an interview with Sonia from CartaMuriel

Material Used for recycling

Before producing, the chose of the material to be recycled is crucial and will define the quality and aspect of the paper produced. The proportion of the different material used will also change the aspect of the paper produced. In the following are note on the different material that can or can’t be used.

• Basic Paper : Any paper, from magazine, newspaper or book can be used if its only paper composed.

• cardboard : can be used
• wood : can be used if reduced to powder
• cord
• flower petal : can be used to add texture to the paper. Needs to be soak for at least 24h otherwise color of the petals will difuse irregulary on the recycled paper.
• cellulose : Classic material used as basis for normal paper, can be used for more strong paper.

The Process

In this part are expleined the different steps to respect in produce recycled paper

1- Preparing the Material to be recycled

Before forming the pulp that will compose the recycled paper, the material to be recycled needs to be prepared, this means reduced in small pieces or powder , depending on the material, that will be integrated into the pulp.

2- Preparing the pulp

In Verona Fablab, we used a dedicated device that will mixture paper, water and glue..

1rst we add the paper in about 20L water

In about 20L of water, we add the paper pieces

Note

The quantity of paper added depends on the aspect wanted on the recycled paper (thickness, strentgh,…)

then we add about 5cl of glue to the mixture

wood glue that works for recycled paper

glue dedicated for paper making, works well with cellulose paper

Add about a spoon of calcium carbonate

Note

calcium carbonate is used to allow paper to be used in jet-ink printer after

Mix until having the desired pulp texture

a fine texture will make more homogenous paper

3- Paper forming

After the paper pulp is made, this is the moment to form the recycled paper based on the pulp.

Put the pulp in a flat recipient

Choose the mold and deckle that will decide the texture and shape of the recycled paper

different size of mold that will separate the pulp from the water

deckle can come in different shape and size

Put the deckle on the mold and dive both into the mixture

Shake gently and keeping the mold and deckle horizontaly

separate the deckle from the mold

Put the formed paper on absorbant paper

Perform a pile of paper with an absorbant paper between each

type of absorbant paper that can be used

Press the pile to remove excess of water

Remove paper from absorbant

Leave the paper to dry 24h

To have a more smooth effect on the paper, you can use a hot press for about 20 secondes

hot press used to smooth paper

Footnotes

[1]	Good book on paper making https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Papermaking-Josep-Asuncion/dp/1579904564

[2]	Different idea for paper making https://www.amazon.fr/Paper-Perfect-25-Bright-Ideas/dp/1579900763/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

[3]	Another book on low budget papermaking https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Papercraft-Lynne-Garner/dp/185004063X