| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 97 09:46 WET From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: Newspaper recycling (Sandip Gupta)
January 3, 1997
Dear Sandip Gupta,
The Research Library for RCRA at US EPA-New England holds the following information relevant to your questions:
1. The prices paid for all recycled paper stocks have been down in the past year or so, that is true. Supply, demand, export/lack of export, and technical factors in US/Canadian recycling plants, as well as continued expansion of collections is responsible. The trade press sees a turnaround in the 2nd half of 1997. However, there is a definite cycle built in to any immature industry such as recycling of paper which will continue for some time to come.
2. Is newspaper recycling lucrative? Certainly not at the present time. Can it be made to be lucrative in specific situations? Yes, but at present only if the end product is going to be something other than recycled newsprint feedstock.
3. What sources should you look at for more information? a. Recycling Today has an occasional column Paper Stock Focus ; b) publications on the subject by the National Solid Wastes Management Assn, 202-659-4613 ; c) occasional articles in Resource Recycling and Waste Age ; d) most important: publications on the subject of the Northeast Recycling Council, Brattleboro, VT (802-254-3636) such as Northeast Publishers Commitments to Purchase Recycled Newsprint: 1996 Status Report , April, 1996, Old Newspaper Old Magazine Supply in the Northeast , April, 1996, and other NERC studies.
I think that this will answer your questions