The Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter of the Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) hosted a Specifications Summit Feb. 25-26, 2015, in Dallas, which attracted nearly 150 people from more than 70 organizations. The Summit was held after Resource Recycling’s annual Plastics Recycling Conference, which ran from Feb. 24-25.

 

During the summit, industry stakeholders had the opportunity to express their opinions on the paper grade specifications as listed in the "2014 ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular."

 

Feb. 26 began with opening statements from Sandy Rosen of Roseville, Michigan-based GLR Advanced Recycling and president of PSI; ISRI president Robin Weiner; and Myles Cohen of Conyers, Georgia-based Pratt Industries and vice president of PSI.

 

Following the opening remarks, attendees were divided into groups for breakout sessions. The groups included MRF (material recovery facility) operators, recovered paper packers, exporters, consuming paper mills, brokers, trade organizations and equipment manufacturers. 

 

The first breakout session focused on OCC (old corrugated containers) grades as described in the "Specifications Circular." The key items discussed included the need for an industry protocol for moisture testing and a desire for an updated list of prohibitives, outthrows and contaminants. Some participants also proposed adding new grades of OCC, such as “short fiber OCC” or “grocery OCC.”  

 

The second breakout session focused on the specifications for old newspapers (ONP) and mixed paper grades. Several groups proposed that ONP and mixed paper should be combined into a single grade.  

 

Following the breakout sessions, facilitators and summit attendees gathered, with the facilitators consolidating and presenting the information discussed in their sessions.  

 

Starting in April 2015, PSI says specifications committees will be formed.