This process produces pulp. Bleach and colourings are used at this stage to dye the paper.
In the next stage the pulp is made smoother. Chemicals such as titanium oxide and starch are added to create different qualities of paper, for example newspaper, writing paper and gift wrapping. Water is then removed from the paper and further coatings may be
added to improve the quality of the paper. Paper production can have serious environmental impacts. The cutting down of trees has many negative consequences and the chemicals used in paper production can have a negative impact if they are not disposed of properly.
Questions 1. Identify the processes involved in producing paper that can have a negative impact on the environment.
2. Paper production produces many wastes that need to be disposed of safely. For one of the chemicals named in this case study, research the negative impact that it could have on the environment.
3. What actions can we take to reduce the impact of paper production on the environment?
26.3 Disposal of materials
The ways in which we dispose of materials can have a significant environmental impact. Landfills are unattractive and unhygienic places. They attract animals such as rats, crows and insects and they produce toxic gases. Incineration is another option to dispose of large quantities of waste. Incineration involves burning the waste. While incineration reduces the quantity of waste on Earth’s surface, it can release toxic gases and produces ash that can be contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Illegal dumping adds rubbish to the environment which is unattractive, can cause contamination of air, soil and water and poses a danger to humans and wildlife. Recycling and composting help to reduce the amount of waste that we add to the environment.
