A composite paper product has inner and outer layers of standard paper bonded to each other and a fiber strand or a densely knitted fiber mat network to form a reinforced paper product. The fiber strand network has a first set of strands extending in a first direction and a second set of strands overlapping the first set and extending in a second direction. In some embodiments the second set of fiber strands overlaps in opposite diagonal directions while overlaying a first set of generally transverse parallel fiber strands. A recyclable binding composition is used to glue the various fiber and paper layers together to yield a unitary sheet of reinforced composite paper.