Federal law mandates office paper recycling

  • Published
  • By 341st Civil Engineer Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Airmen may not be aware that there is a federal law that mandates the recycling of office paper on federal installations. 40 CFR § 246.200-1 states that high-grade paper generated by office facilities of more than 100 office workers shall be separated at the source of generation, separately collected and sold for the purpose of recycling.

Malmstrom complies with this mandate by contracting for biweekly office paper pickups. Most buildings have grey office paper recycling containers located next to their facilities. The containers belong to the contractor and are assigned to the facilities. Do not to move them or use them for other purposes. For information on pick-up schedules, contact the building's facility manager.

Knowledge of the proper way to recycle office paper lowers disposal costs, obtains revenue from the sale of the paper, conserves trees, and reduces air, water and land pollution.

High quality white or colored office paper used in the printers and copiers on Malmstrom is recycled.

Mixed paper can include white office paper mixed with glossy paper, envelopes, manila folders, junk mail, pamphlets, brochures, newspapers and magazines but nothing bound by metal.

Office paper brings a return to the recycling program of approximately $450 per ton, while mixed paper returns only $32 per ton.

Paper mills that process recovered paper are set up to remove common contaminants such as staples and paper clips from the pulped paper. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove such items before recycling the paper, although paper clips and binder clips can be removed and reused.

Shredded paper can be recycled as long as it is shredded to an appropriate size and does not contain an unacceptable level of contaminants, such as plastics. Please do not place plastic bags of shredded paper into the recycle containers, empty the bags or bins into the recycle container.

Paper that is considered recyclable includes computer or printer paper, ledge paper, white or colored envelopes - with or without plastic windows - and shredded paper. Items not recyclable include junk mail, magazines, slick or glossy paper and plastic bags.

For more information, contact Frank Carpenter at 731-6448