Introduction：

The recycling of pulper ropes in paper mills is essentially a systematic project aimed at realizing the resource utilization of special composite waste generated during waste paper processing, with its core purpose being to solve the transformation problem between “waste” and “resources.” This rope-like waste, formed by intertwined metal wires and plastic films, would not only waste recyclable resources such as iron wires and plastics if directly landfilled or incinerated but also exacerbate soil and air pollution due to the rusting of metals and the non-degradable nature of plastics. Therefore, the primary goal of recycling is to achieve resource regeneration through scientific treatment: extracting and recycling 30%-50% of the metals (mainly iron wires) for reuse in steel production; processing 50%-70% of the plastics (mostly PE and PP films) into recycled pellets to re-enter the industrial production chain. Meanwhile, the recycling process can reduce the solid waste disposal costs of paper mills, decrease reliance on primary metals and plastics, and form a closed loop of “waste – regeneration – reuse.”

The process of pulper rope recycling：

Firstly, centralized collection and pre-treatment are carried out. In paper mills, during slag discharge from pulpers or the dismantling of waste paper bales, scattered pulper ropes are uniformly collected, and large impurities such as stones and wood are manually removed to prevent damage to subsequent equipment. Then comes the critical shredding stage: specialized dual-shaft shredders, with their low-speed and high-torque design, shear and tear meter-long rope-like waste into 5-10cm segments, breaking the tight entanglement between metals and plastics. The shredded materials are then passed through magnetic separators to separate ferromagnetic metals, with purity reaching over 95%; the remaining plastic components undergo air separation or electrostatic separation to remove residual impurities, resulting in relatively pure plastic fragments. Finally, the separated metals are compressed and baled for sale to steel mills, while the plastic fragments, after cleaning, drying, and pelletizing, are used to produce products such as plastic pallets and pipes, or made into alternative fuels for industrial kilns, completing the final closed loop of resource utilization.

Conclusion

From a broader perspective, the significance of pulper rope recycling goes far beyond resource regeneration in a single link; it is an important manifestation of the paper industry’s practice of circular economy. At the environmental level, recycling reduces land occupation from solid waste landfills and dioxin pollution from incineration, lowers carbon emissions from metal smelting and plastic production, and contributes to the achievement of “dual carbon goals.” Economically, each ton of pulper ropes can recover metals and plastics worth hundreds of yuan, creating additional revenue for paper mills while reducing raw material costs for downstream steel and plastic industries, forming a synergistic effect across the industrial chain. At the industry level, this “turning waste into treasure” model promotes paper mills to shift from “end-of-pipe treatment” to “prioritizing source reduction and resource utilization,” driving the upgrading of recycling technologies—such as the application of intelligent sorting equipment—to further improve recycling efficiency and purity. Ultimately, pulper rope recycling is not only a choice for paper mills to reduce costs and increase efficiency but also a concrete practice in promoting the construction of a resource-saving and environment-friendly society.

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