A large number of trees are cut down for the production of paper, which requires large amounts of water to process. Chemicals used in paper production can affect the ecological balance of water bodies, endangering aquatic life and its surrounding environment.

In the 1980s, as the movement to preserve Earth’s natural resources grew, paper became one of the first products to be widely recycled. In 2022, 67.9 per cent of all paper used in the United States was recycled, according to the American Forest and Paper Association.

Though some paper products cannot be recycled at all. For example, soiled toilet paper and greasy food containers cannot be recycled due to hygiene restrictions. Other paper products, such as drywall and pet bedding, cannot be reused. In addition, long-used products such as books, official documents, and photographs have not been recycled for decades. When paper is contaminated, recycling leads to environmental problems. Contaminated paper can lead to elevated levels of pollutants in wastewater, reducing water quality. Additionally, toxins in the paper can leach into the soil as the paper decomposes, finding their way into waterways through storm drains.

This project aims to create two series: one depicting an 'ideal recycling' situation through the cyanotype process, and the other crafts recycled paper from food stained papers.

Defalque, C.M., Marins, F.A.S., da Silva, A.F. et al. "A review of waste paper recycling networks focusing on quantitative methods and sustainability." J Mater Cycles Waste Management 23, 55–76 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01124-0

Logan, Catalina. "How Does Recycling Paper Affect the Environment?" sciencing.com, https://sciencing.com/how-does-recycling-paper-affect-the-environment-5171772.html., 2 January 2024.