Recycling More Than Just Newspapers

The MDDC Technology Committee recognizes the importance of recycling many of those other materials including newsprint cores and silver.

Although newsprint is still the most well-known recycled product. The newspaper recycling rate has continued to climb in recent years, from 35 percent in 1988 to 71 percent in 2000. That same year, 9 million of the 13 million tons of newspaper in the United States was recycled.

Over 34 percent of old newspaper recycled in 1999 was turned into new newsprint. The average amount of recycled fiber in newsprint has tripled in less than a decade, with more newspapers requesting newsprint that contains recycled product.

Members of the committee have provided a list of companies that accept materials other than newsprint as well as contact information for them.

· Newsprint (white and printed) – International Cellulose (410) 355-5800, Capitol Fiber, Inc. (703) 658-0200

· Newsprint cores – Jim Watts (843) 383-7709

· Old Corrugated, Newsprint Roll Wrappers – Capitol Fiber, Inc. (703) 658-0200

· Silver (chip and page film) – Eccotech (800) 762-2891, Safety-Kleen (703) 331-0516, Montgomery Scrap Co. (301) 424-3000

· Printed Offset Plate – Montgomery Scrap Co. (301) 424-3000

· Pressroom solvents – Safety-Kleen (703) 331-0516

· Mixed office paper – Capitol Fiber, Inc. (703) 658-0200, local recycling companies

If you have any questions about recycling materials at your newspaper, send them to info@mddcpress.com and they will be passed along to the Technology Committee.