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Deals with the attempts of the US President Bill Clinton's administration to facilitate the transition to totally chlorine-free (TCF) paper. Goals of an executive order requiring federal government to purchase TCF paper to satisfy a portion of its paper needs; Details of the `Cluster Rule ' of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Proposals of the EPA to reduce dioxin pollution. INSETS: Breaking it down from wood to paper;The big deal recycling executive order.

The article discusses the result of the study conducted by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority regarding the level of toxic emissions of incinerators. According to the study, the burning of polyvinyl chloride and other plastics do not increase the level of dioxin emissions nor boost the formation of furan. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that some paper contain traces of dioxin as result of bleaching with chloride.

This section provides answers to questions concerning paper and the paper industry. A paper's brightness is defined by the percentage of light it reflects. Papers with a higher brightness allow colors to stand out, while lower-brightness papers are easier on the eyes for reading or extended viewing. A brighter sheet usually is more expensive to make. Fillers and chemicals, such as fluorescent dyes and optical brighteners, are needed to create the paper's brighter appearance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends paper with a minimum recycled content of 30 percent post-consumer waste (PCW) for uncoated papers and 10 percent PCW for coated papers. A lot of high quality mills offer paper that meets or exceeds these standards. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified papers are another option. This worldwide organization certifies sustainable forestry practices and encourages the use of FSC-certified paper. As for bleaching, ensure that the paper is process chlorine-free (PCF). PCF indicates that fiber is recycled and is unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. PCF papers cannot be considered totally chlorine-free because of the unknown bleaching process of its recycled content.