Optimizing used recycled pulp in the paper production

In recent years interest in paper recycling has grown, as part of the increase popular awareness of environmental quality problems. Paper makes up about half of the weight of municipal refuse and municipal refuse disposal is an increasingly difficult problem. Landfill sites near large cities, which ofter the cheapest disposal method, are filling up at an increasing rate as the per capita solid waste generation continues to increase. Costs of acquiring more distant sites also continue to rise, as do transportation costs, hence reducing the total amount of refuse for disposal is of increasing economic importance aside from the environmental quality issue. This paper presents study-case with application of a linear programming model for production use and recycling of various paper and related products. This model is used to estimate the maximum feasible recycling rate given the current state of paper technology. Paper recycling, which is a very important issue in Brazil and many other countries.