The diagram illustrates the various stages through which used paper is processed and converted into new paper products.
Overall, it is clear that the procedure is linear rather than cyclical, and that it comprises nine distinct stages, extending from the initial gathering of discarded paper to the eventual manufacture of fresh products. The entire operation is controlled by human activity and combines transportation, manual sorting and a series of industrial treatments through which the paper is progressively transformed.
At the outset, unwanted paper is collected from a range of sources, including newspapers, magazines and both household and office waste. Once gathered, it is transported by truck to a recycling centre, where it is sorted by hand so that non-paper materials can be removed. The remaining paper is subsequently shredded into tiny fragments before being mixed with water to form pulp. This pulp is then de-inked to yield clean fibres, after which it is pressed by rollers into sheets and dried. Finally, the recycled material is turned into new products such as newspapers, notebooks and office supplies.