The invention therefore relates to a process for the deinking of wastepaper stocks which comprises:a) converting the wastepaper to a pulp and contacting said pulp with an aqueous medium of alkaline pH containing a surface active deinking agent, andb) subjecting the resulting pulp-containing medium to one or more flotation steps wherein said final flotation step is carried out at a pH of less than about 7 to remove suspended ink therefrom and to condition said pulp-containing medium for subsequent addition to a paper machine.