Market Status Report:
Postconsumer Recovered Paper

Table of Contents

Preface

I.Introduction

II. Supply of Postconsumer Recovered Paper

III. Demand for California Postconsumer Recovered Paper

IV. Primary Barriers to Increasing Postconsumer Recovered Paper Supply

• Old Corrugated Containers
• Office Papers
• Mixed Paper
• Old Newspapers

V. Strategies to Overcome Barriers to Increasing Postconsumer Recovered Paper Supply

• Old Corrugated Containers
• Office Papers
• Mixed Paper
• Old Newspapers

VI. Primary Barriers to Increasing Postconsumer Recovered Paper Demand

• Old Corrugated Containers
• Office Papers
• Mixed Paper
• Old Newspapers

VII. Strategies to Overcome Barriers to Increasing Postconsumer Recovered Paper Demand

• Old Corrugated Containers
• Office Papers
• Mixed Paper
• Old Newspapers

VIII. Summary

• Increasing Supply
• Increasing Demand

I. Introduction

This paper addresses postconsumer recovered paper only, because it is postconsumer paper that is most prevalent in California's landfills and which faces the greatest barriers to increasing recovery and recycling. By contrast, there are few barriers to recovering and recycling preconsumer paper (such as converting scrap), and demand is strong-and always has been-for such paper.

The paper addresses four major "grades" of postconsumer recovered paper: old corrugated containers, office papers (computer printout, white ledger, and sorted office paper), mixed paper, and old newspapers. The definitions for these paper grades are as follows:

Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)

Used cardboard boxes.

Office Papers

Computer Printout (CPO). White, groundwood-free papers used for printing computer-generated data. Typically are continuous, serrated papers, with "tractor feed" strips on side. Have superior strength and printing surface to ledger papers.

White Ledger (WL). White, groundwood-free printing and writing papers such as copier paper, laser printer paper, white lined tablet paper, and stationary.

Sorted Office Paper (SOP). A selective mixture of papers typically generated in offices, comprised primarily of white ledger but including colored ledger, carbonless forms, envelopes, and groundwood-free coated paper. (Note: The term "sorted" is based on the fact that the acceptable mixture of papers must still be sorted from nonacceptable papers such as boxboard, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, and catalogs.)

Mixed Paper

An extremely broad mixture of papers, with few unacceptable paper types. Includes virtually all types of paper generated in offices, and a large percentage of papers generated in homes. Unacceptable paper types typically include plastic-coated papers such as frozen food packages and paper towels/tissue.

Old Newspaper (ONP)

Newspapers and other uncoated, unbound groundwood papers such as advertising fliers, election guides, and tax forms.

Table of Contents | 1996 Market Development Plan

Last updated: November 01, 2007