• Press Release

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: ReMA Proposed Paper Specifications Changes

(Washington, DC) – On April 6, 2016, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Board of Directors approved changes to the paper specifications listed on pages 26-38 of the Scrap Specifications Circular. As per ISRI’s bylaws, a public comment period will remain open for 30 days after approval of the following specifications (please direct all comments to ReMA Chief Economist Joe Pickard): 

Deletions (current specifications will remain effective through December 31, 2016):
News Grades #6, 7, and 8
Mix Grades #1, 2, and 3

Additions (effective June 1, 2016):
#58 Sorted Clean News (SCN) 
- Consists of sorted newspapers from source separated collection programs, converters, drop-off centers and paper drives containing the normal percentages of roto gravure, colored and coated sections. May contain inserts that would normally be included in the newspaper in the proper proportions. Grade must be free of excessive ink, brown grades and non-paper material. {Some mills may require pack to be free of flexographic inks.}
Prohibitive Materials: ½ of 1%
Outthrows plus Prohibitives may not exceed 1%
Other papers may not exceed 10%

#56 Sorted Residential Papers (SRP) - Consists of sorted newspapers, junk mail, magazines, printing and writing papers and other acceptable papers generated from residential programs (such as residential household and apartment collections and drop-off centers) sorted and processed at a recycling facility. Material should be free of containerboard & brown grades {OCC, Kraft bags, Boxboard and Kraft carrier board}.
Prohibitive materials may not exceed 2%
Outthrows may not exceed 3%

#54 Mixed Paper (MP) - Consists of all paper and paperboard of various qualities not limited to the type of fiber content, sorted and processed at a recycling facility.
Prohibitive materials may not exceed 2%
Outthrows may not exceed 3%

For more than a year, the Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter of ReMA has worked to develop these specification changes with extensive public feedback from the entire industry. This has included two Paper Specification Summits each attended by more than 120 people, additional meetings, online submissions, and more.

The PSI Specifications Committee will continue to review these and other specifications, and process feedback collected at the most recent Summit and through other sources to make additional recommendations in the future. For more information, visit www.PaperStockIndustries.org.

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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ReMA represents more than 1,600 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides safety, education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.

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