PURPOSE: To utilize staple fiber such as shredded paper which has hitherto been discarded and obtain paper at a low cost by reacting a component containing vegetable staple fiber with a crosslinking agent and a polymer under alkaline conditions, washing the resultant reaction product, obtaining an insoluble component and then making the insoluble component into paper.

CONSTITUTION: A component containing vegetable staple fiber such as bean- cured refuse or shredded paper is reacted with a crosslinking agent (e.g. epichlorohydrin) and a polymer (e.g. sodium salt of CMC, PVA or polyethyleneimine) under alkaline conditions to form long chains. The resultant reaction product is then washed to provide an insoluble component, which is subsequently made into paper to afford the objective paper.