A systems study of waste paper recovery and recycling

Abstract

This thesis investigated the technological economics of waste paper recovery and recycling in UK. The major problem in waste paper recycling is still the removal of contraries, although technological developments have so far been able to remove some of them. The costs incurred by the local authorities in recovering waste paper were investigated. Local authority costing was found to be inconsistent and many of them did not include all the relevant indirect costs and savings, so that many local authorities claimed to be making heavy losses in their operations. Full accounting incorporating all the relevant indirect costs and savings have shown that most local authorities incurred much smaller losses and in some cases profited from their waste paper recovery operations. A general computer model was developed to allow local authorities to check the viability of their on-going operations and another computer model was developed for an investment appraisal of a proposed waste paper recovery operation. Multiple regression models were developed to forecast the demand of waste paper in the short term and the long term. The cost to the mill in recycling waste paper was also examined. Waste paper recycling can only be increased by improving demand for waste paper based products. Various alternatives for diversifying the markets for waste paper were investigated, particularly those outside the paper and board industry. The government's role in helping to inc~ease waste paper recovery and recycling was examined and some government actions that could be taken were proposed.