How is recycled newspaper made into new newsprint?

To transform recycled newspaper into new newsprint, the process follows these primary steps:

• Collection and Sorting: Old newspapers are gathered and manually sorted on conveyor belts to remove contaminants such as corrugated materials and mixed papers.1
• Pulping: The sorted newspapers are baled and transported to paper mills, where they are fed into a pulper—a large tank equipped with agitator blades. Hot water and chemicals are added to break down the paper into a fibrous pulp.21
• De-inking: Because newsprint is a printing-grade product, the pulp must undergo a de-inking process. Chemicals like caustic soda, often supplemented with surfactants, phosphates, and soda ash, are used to disperse and separate the ink from the paper fibres.23
• Cleaning and Bleaching: The stock is screened to remove fine trash particles and washed to eliminate the dispersed ink and chemicals. In some instances, the pulp is bleached with agents like hypochlorite to improve its whiteness.2
• Sheet Formation: Once cleaned, the recycled pulp is processed into new sheets of newsprint.13