In an era where sustainability is paramount, organizations have a unique opportunity to lead by example. Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) embraced this role by establishing a Waste Paper Recycling Unit. This initiative not only helped manage paper waste effectively but also fostered a culture of environmental responsibility across the campus.
Universities produce vast amounts of paper waste—ranging from administrative documents to classroom materials and research papers. Establishing a recycling unit directly addresses this challenge by reducing the campus’s environmental footprint. Paper recycling helps conserve natural resources, reduces energy use and lowers the volume of waste sent to landfills. Recycling paper offers significant benefits, including saving approximately 17 trees per ton, reducing deforestation, and conserving 60% of the energy used in paper production, thus lowering greenhouse gas emissions. It also reduces landfill waste, decreasing harmful emissions from decomposing paper.
The recycling process consists of several key stages. First, collected paper is shredded into small pieces to facilitate pulping. In the pulping stage, the shredded paper is mixed with water and chemicals to break it down into fibers, forming a slurry known as pulp, while contaminants like ink and glue are removed. The pulp then undergoes screening to filter out any remaining impurities. In the de-inking phase, inks and dyes are extracted, leaving clean fibers ready for reuse. Finally, the refined pulp is dried and pressed into sheets, which are processed into new products such as writing paper, cardboard, and packaging materials.
Recycled paper from the unit is repurposed to meet various needs across the university, including the production of envelopes, notebooks and paper bags. In the future, the unit plans to expand its use to printing exam papers. SRHU’s waste paper recycling initiative is a crucial step toward creating a sustainable campus and minimizing environmental impact. More importantly, it fosters a culture of environmental consciousness among students, equipping them to lead future sustainability efforts.
