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Glossary

This page provides definitions for many of the terms commonly used in paper recycling.


Carbon Sequestration

The uptake and storage of atmospheric carbon; for example, in soil and vegetation.

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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) Exit EPA Disclaimer specifications for “sorted office paper” and “sorted white ledger.”

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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.”

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Mixed Paper

Generally refers to paper of various grades, colors, finishes, and coatings mixed together.

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Paper Stock

Term used in the paper recycling industry; equivalent to “recovered paper” or “waste paper.”

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Postconsumer Recovered Fiber (Paper)

  1. 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
  2. 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.

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Recovered Fiber (Paper)

  1. 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
  2. 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.
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Recycled Paper

EPA does not defined this term. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s (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.

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Recycling Rate

Recycling rate =
Total recycled (by weight)
divided by total discarded (by weight) + recycled (by weight)

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Virgin Fiber/Paper

Refers to cellulose fiber derived directly from trees and other plants that is newly pulped, previously unused.

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