Glossary
This page provides definitions for many of the terms commonly used in paper recycling.
- Carbon Sequestration
- High-Grade
- Mill Broke
- Mixed Paper
- Paper Stock
- Postconsumer Recovered Fiber (Paper)
- Recovered Fiber (Paper)
- Recycled Paper
- Recycling Rate
- Virgin Fiber/Paper
Carbon Sequestration
The uptake and storage of atmospheric carbon; for example, in soil and vegetation.
High-Grade
Generally refers to white or cream-colored paper recovered from offices, homes, schools, and other sources. Includes used copy paper, stationery, and old books. Equivalent to Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) specifications for sorted office paper and sorted white ledger.
Mill Broke
Any paper waste generated in a paper mill prior to completion of the papermaking process. It is usually returned directly to the pulping process. Mill broke is excluded from the definition of recovered fiber.
Source
- US EPA, Paper Products Recovered Materials Advisory Notice; Federal Register, May 29, 1996, Volume 61, Number 104; Pages 26985-26993 (PDF) (9 pp, 61K, about PDF).
Mixed Paper
Generally refers to paper of various grades, colors, finishes, and coatings mixed together.
Paper Stock
Term used in the paper recycling industry; equivalent to recovered paper or waste paper.
Postconsumer Recovered Fiber (Paper)
- Paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes from retail stores, office buildings, homes, and so forth, after they have passed through their end-usage as a consumer item, including: used corrugated boxes; old newspapers; old magazines; mixed waste paper; tabulating cards; and used cordage; and
- All paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that enter and are collected from municipal solid waste. Postconsumer fiber does not include fiber derived from printers over-runs, converters scrap, and over-issue publications.
Recovered Fiber (Paper)
- Postconsumer fiber such as:
- Paper, paperboard, and fibrous materials from retail stores, office buildings, homes, and so forth, after they have passed through their end-usage as a consumer item, including: used corrugated boxes; old newspapers; old magazines; mixed waste paper; tabulating cards; and used cordage; and
- All paper, paperboard, and fibrous materials that enter and are collected from municipal solid waste, and
- Manufacturing wastes such as:
- Dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets) including: envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming, and other converting operations; bag, box, and carton manufacturing wastes; and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and
- Repulped finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters, or others.
Source
- US EPA, Paper Products Recovered Materials Advisory Notice; Federal Register, May 29, 1996, Volume 61, Number 104; Pages 26985-26993 (PDF) (9 pp, 61K, about PDF).
Recycled Paper
EPA does not defined this term. According to the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) Guides for Environmental Marketing Claims, a paper can be called recycled only if it contains 100 percent postconsumer recovered fiber. If the postconsumer content is less than 100 percent, the paper should be called recycled-content paper.
Source
- Federal Trade Commission, Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.
Recycling Rate
divided by total discarded (by weight) + recycled (by weight)
Virgin Fiber/Paper
Refers to cellulose fiber derived directly from trees and other plants that is newly pulped, previously unused.