Getting blocked by the Team Initiation Challenge because you can’t figure out how to source Paper in Pokemon Pokopia? You aren’t alone. Unlike basic resources such as Wood or Stone, Paper is a refined material that cannot be harvested directly from the environment. Instead, it demands a two-step manufacturing pipeline: gathering a raw material called Wastepaper from late-game biomes, and delegating the refinement process to a town resident equipped with the specific “Recycle” specialty.
To kickstart your production, you need to push your main story progression to the “Ultra” Trainer Rank to unlock the Sparkling Skylands. This floating junkyard is heavily littered with Wastepaper. Once you’ve vacuumed up a healthy stack of this trash, bring it back to your base. By interacting with a designated recycler—like Trubbish or Metang—you can commission them to convert your garbage into the pristine Paper required for habitat crafting and major questlines.
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Quick Overview: The Paper Crafting Pipeline
| Step | Requirement | The Takeaway |
| 1. The Raw Material | Wastepaper | Found primarily in the Sparkling Skylands (requires Ultra Trainer Rank). Harvest it from scrap blocks and floating trash. |
| 2. The Workhorse | “Recycle” Specialty | You need a resident like Trubbish (found at Bleak Beach), Garbodor, or Metang to process the material. |
| 3. The Conversion Rate | 10 Wastepaper = 20 Paper | The UI limits you to handing over 10 Wastepaper at a time. Processing takes real-time waiting. |
| 4. The Primary Uses | Quests & Habitats | Essential for clearing the Team Initiation Challenge and crafting furniture like bookcases. |
Phase 1: Farming Wastepaper
Before you can make Paper, you need trash. While you might find trace amounts of Wastepaper in early zones, the only viable farming route is the Sparkling Skylands.
You cannot access this zone until you hit the Ultra Trainer Rank, which means you need to be actively clearing your Important Requests to level up. Once inside the Skylands, look for scrap blocks and general floating litter. Fill your inventory with as much Wastepaper as possible before heading back to your habitats, as the conversion process requires bulk deposits.
Phase 2: Utilizing the Recycle Specialty
Your raw materials are useless without a Pokémon to refine them. You need to recruit a Pokémon with the Recycle specialty. If you have been clearing the Bleak Beach narrative missions, you should already have Trubbish unlocked. Alternatively, Metang and Garbodor also carry this necessary trait.
The UI interaction for crafting can be slightly unintuitive. Here is the exact input sequence to start production:
- Walk up to your Recycling Pokémon (e.g., Trubbish) and interact with them.
- Select the “Look at this!” dialogue option.
- Open your inventory and select your stack of Wastepaper.
- When prompted on what to do with it, select “Make me some paper.”
- Input your deposit amount.
- Note: You are capped at handing over 10 Wastepaper per interaction, which yields an output of 20 Paper.
Keep in mind that this is not an instant craft. It takes processing time, so it is highly recommended to max out Trubbish’s queue with 10 Wastepaper before you head back out to explore or gather other resources.
FAQs
Q: Can I just buy Paper or Wastepaper from the PC Shop if I have enough Coins?
Unlike Wheat or Beans, Paper is strictly tied to the crafting loop. You cannot buy your way out of this progression blocker; you have to put in the time at the Sparkling Skylands and utilize the Recycle mechanic.
Q: I gave Trubbish my Wastepaper, but I didn’t get any Paper back. Is it bugged?
It’s not a bug; it’s a timer. The Recycle specialty processes items over time. Don’t stand around waiting for it. Drop off your 10 Wastepaper, go clear another habitat requirement or gather some Tomatoes, and check back later to claim your 20 Paper.
Q: I’m at Bleak Beach, but I don’t see Trubbish anywhere. How do I get him to recycle for me?
Trubbish isn’t just a random wild spawn; he is tied directly to the narrative progression of the Bleak Beach zone. Keep pushing the main story quests in that specific area until he officially joins your roster of town residents.
