Indonesia to use ISRI specs for recovered paper imports

The Indonesian government has announced that it plans to use Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) specifications for recovered paper imports, according to a news release from ISRI, Washington. 

In May, the Indonesian government imposed new regulations on imports of recovered paper in an effort to crack down on illegal shipments. The new regulations included a 0.5 percent contamination limit and 100 percent preshipment inspections, including separating containers into bales, according to a news release ISRI. Also, incoming shipments to Indonesia needed to be “clean, dry and homogenous” according to its new regulations. The new regulations led to much confusion in the recovered paper industry, ISRI reports. There was little clarity on what “homogenous” meant.

However, ISRI’s specifications for recovered paper set a standard of 1 to 2 percent for prohibitives and 3 to 4 percent for outhrows. It also is using the specifications to define its use of the word “homogenous” in describing the condition of bales, ISRI reports. Indonesia’s use of ISRI’s specifications will offer more clarity in the nation’s regulation.