Tracing the historical progression of mass-scale recycling in the U.S., the white paper explains that early dual-stream recycling programs—in which paper remained separate from containers, trash, and organic contaminants—produced a robust supply of high-quality recycled fiber, ready for manufacture into a variety of value-added paper products.
 
Today, however, the quality of recycled fibers has been impacted by the growing popularity of single-stream recycling programs. Designed to increase consumer convenience and participation rates while decreasing municipalities’ collection costs, single stream programs allow consumers to place all recyclables into one receptacle for curbside pickup—no sorting necessary. Yet due to comingling with other materials and organic contaminants, the quality of the fibers coming out of such programs is much lower than that of those sourced from dual stream and other separated waste streams.
 
The white paper goes on to describe how the fiber supply could be impacted even further by new mixed-waste systems in which recyclables and trash are collected together. After presenting the economic implications for the paper and paperboard packaging industries, the white paper concludes with information on how converters can help protect the supply of clean, high-quality recycled fiber so important to the paperboard packaging industry.
 
“PPC is dedicated to keeping members and stakeholders up to date on the latest issues affecting our industry and the manufacture of our product,” said Ben Markens, President of PPC. “PPC’s many white papers—including the most recent one on clean fiber—are a key benefit of membership and an invaluable resource for any converter or supplier of paperboard packaging.”

Members can read the white paper at paperbox.org/MRF. PPC’s comprehensive library of white papers may be reviewed at the Knowledge Center at paperbox.org.