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Understanding deinking and paper recycling processes

Recycled paper pulp pressed into a white sheet with a dark ink droplet suspended mid-fall, flat lay on light gray surface.

Published by Tapp

Last updated at 28 January 2026

Reading time 3 minutes

Paper recycling helps reduce waste and save resources. Many people don’t know how used paper becomes new products. The deinking process is very important. It removes ink and dirt to make clean fibres for reuse.

This matters more now as companies want sustainable solutions. Many businesses throw away millions of plastic data loggers each year. Tapp’s paper-based data loggers are different. They can be recycled with normal paper waste.

This guide explains how deinking and recycling work. These processes make paper products a good choice instead of plastic ones.

How the deinking process removes ink from recycled paper

Deinking cleans printed waste paper. It uses two main methods:

  • Flotation process – Air bubbles go into the paper mix. Ink sticks to the bubbles and floats up. This works well for big ink pieces from newspapers and magazines.
  • Washing method – Water and special cleaners wash ink away from paper fibres. This removes small ink pieces that flotation misses.

Machines also help with this cleaning. They mix and screen the paper fast. This removes dirt but keeps the fibres safe.

After removing ink, the paper goes to the next recycling step.

What happens during the complete paper recycling process

First, workers collect and sort paper. They separate different types based on quality.

Next, the paper goes to pulping. Water and chemicals break it down into small fibres.

Then comes cleaning. This removes staples, glue, and other non-paper items.

Deinking follows. It uses the methods above to remove ink and make clean pulp.

Finally, the clean pulp becomes new paper. Workers press, dry, and roll it into sheets. This recycled paper can make newspapers, boxes, and even paper-based data loggers.

These basic steps haven’t changed much. But new technology has made them much better.

Why modern deinking technology makes paper recycling more efficient

New technology has made deinking much better. Here are the main improvements:

  • Smart sorting systems – These find different ink types and paper grades very well. They adjust chemicals automatically for better results.
  • Better chemicals – New cleaners work better and are safer for the environment. They work at lower temperatures too.
  • Improved machines – New flotation and washing machines handle more paper and work better. They can process complex materials including paper with small electronic parts.

These improvements have changed paper recycling completely. It’s now a smart manufacturing system. It can handle many different materials. This makes recycling cheaper and supports new sustainable products.

Paper-based loggers work very well with these new systems. They don’t have lithium and are made of normal paper. This means they can go through regular recycling. Plastic electronic devices need special waste processing instead.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact our team of experts today.