|
|||||
 | |||||
|
Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/3/06 |
|
|
In
the News Archive - Year:
May 10, 2006 Paper Technology Transfer Center plans recycling study How materials are separated concerns paper companies By Richard Ryman
Whether single-stream recycling — not separating recycled materials before pickup — and the use of recycled paper are compatible will be the subject of a study by the Paper Technology Transfer Center. The University of Wisconsin Green Bay-based center has been awarded a $29,188 grant by the UW System Solid Waste Research Council to conduct the study, which is to be completed by next summer.
"It's a situation, when decisions are made in one part of the chain of supply, you need to know what's going to happen in the other parts," said David Hollenberg, center director.
Locally, most communities require residents to separate paper from other recyclable materials, but the idea of single-stream recycling is being adopted or considered in many places.
Ken Graves, quality assurance manager for Georgia-Pacific Corp. in Green Bay, the largest user of recycled paper in the United States, said broken bottles and food contamination are the concerns.
"If the glass breaks, it's very difficult to make sure all that glass is removed in the re-sorting process," Graves said. "If you get food-waste contamination on the paper ... the concern we have is the attraction it has for pests."
Graves and Hollenberg said this is an issue that affects recycled-paper dealers as well.
Hollenberg said paper mills might be less interested in buying fiber if significant amounts are co-mingled with glass and food.
"We'd like to get some appreciation of where that line is," he said.
Graves said the issues aren't insurmountable, but the effect on costs and efficiency aren't clear.
Hollenberg said other paper mills, such as those that make writing paper and corrugated, are more concerned about the wearing effect of glass on their machines than having it get into their product.
"There are a lot of variables associated with this," he said.
This is the first nonadministrative grant awarded to the center. He said the recycling study is important because it demonstrates to paper companies that the center can provide a benefit, which may generate support for other projects.
Hollenberg said the center is preparing a grant application to the National Science Foundation's Partnerships for Innovation Program. That grant would be for $600,000.
Hollenberg said the center would use it to:
• Look for intellectual property of major paper manufacturers, such as Georgia-Pacific, Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, that could be licensed to smaller companies.
• Study generic issues, such as energy costs or utilization of byproducts or waste products.
| |
