Just what the world has been waiting for – reusable copier paper: Ricoh Co Ltd said it had developed a process that turns paper used for photocopies white again by removing the toner used to copy images: the new technology, which is still in prototype form, removes toner from the surface of copied paper by a thermochemical process, so it can be re-used until it becomes too old and damaged, Ricoh said, suggesting that the process would save paper and eliminate the need for shredders to destroy copies of confidential documents; the prototype machine can recycle three A4 sheets a minute, and its running cost is less than a tenth that of making new or recycled copy paper by current means, according to Ricoh.
