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Materials Reference

Recyclable Materials Glossary.

Complete ISRI / ReMA specifications for fiber, plastics, and metals. Common names, grade codes, value ranges, who generates it, who buys it, and what it becomes. Built for recyclers, buyers, and anyone who needs to know what they're handling.

43+
ISRI grades covered
3
Material categories
10+
Subcategories
2024
ReMA specifications
📦

Fiber & Paper

Paper and cardboard materials graded by ISRI Paper Stock (PS) specifications.

"Used cardboard can become a new box in 14 days"

10 grades covered
♻️

Plastics

Plastic resins identified by Resin Identification Code (RIC #1–7).

"Recycled PET bottles become polyester clothing in 6 weeks"

10 grades covered
🔩

Metals

Ferrous and non-ferrous metals graded by ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular.

"Aluminum cans return to shelves in just 60 days"

23 grades covered
43 materials

Industry Glossary

ISRI / ReMA
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (now Recycled Materials Association). Sets the standard commodity grades used industrywide.
OCC
Old Corrugated Containers. Used cardboard boxes — the world's most traded paper grade by volume.
Prohibitives
Materials that make an entire load unacceptable — hazardous, non-recyclable, or process-damaging content. Typically limited to <1% of a load.
Outthrows
Materials in a bale that don't meet grade specs but are recyclable. Usually limited to 2–5% of a load.
Bale Wire
Steel wire used to bind compressed bales for storage and transport. Auto-tie box wire for horizontal balers; single-loop ties for vertical balers.
MRF
Material Recovery Facility. Plant that receives, sorts, and prepares commingled recyclables from curbside collection.
UBC
Used Beverage Containers. Aluminum cans collected post-consumer. One of the most valuable and widely recycled materials.
HMS
Heavy Melting Steel/Scrap. Ferrous steel grades categorized by thickness — HMS #1 (¼" and over) and HMS #2 (lighter gauge).
Bare Bright
The highest copper grade — clean, stripped, un-tinned copper wire with no oxidation. Commands top market price.
RIC
Resin Identification Code. The #1–7 numbering system on plastic containers identifying the resin type.
Ferrous
Metals containing iron. Magnetic — can be separated with magnets. Includes steel and cast iron.
Non-Ferrous
Metals without iron. Not magnetic. Includes aluminum, copper, brass, lead, zinc, and stainless steel.
Recovery Basis
How insulated wire and some grades are priced — based on the percentage of recovered metal after processing.
Zorba
Mixed shredded non-ferrous material from auto shredding, predominantly aluminum. Pre-cursor to Twitch grade.
Deinking
Process of removing inks from recovered paper before it's pulped for reuse. Affects quality of recovered fiber.
Bale Density
Weight per cubic foot of a finished bale. Higher density = lower transport cost per ton. Critical for OCC and cardboard economics.

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