Where does recycled waste paper actually go after collection?

Where does recycled waste paper actually go after collection?
The chain runs from neighborhood collectors to sorting depots, then to paper mill yards where material is graded into old corrugated containers, old books, and mixed grades. Imported fiber historically followed stricter specs, which is why traders still quote grades like US 8 and US 11. At the mill, waste paper enters the pulping stage, essentially a giant blender that separates fiber from staples, plastic film, glue, and ink. Because feedstock quality varies so widely, grade selection directly determines what finished product a mill can make, from high-strength containerboard down to tissue and low-end board. For buyers, the practical takeaway is that grade discipline at the collection point sets the ceiling on both yield and end-product quality.