Paper recycles so easily due to the fact that it normally only needs to be shredded [to make smaller units to recycle] and water is added in order to break the wood fibers apart. As a slurry of water and wood fibers was used to make the paper, in a process of successive steps where the water was removed; in recycling of paper, water is added and, to speed up the process, mechanical "beating" of the mix is utilized to help break the fibers apart.
Once the fibers are broken down into single units, the paper-making process can begin once again.