Representatives from paper mills and from the recovered fiber supply chain delivered reminders to recyclers to keep their attention focused on the quality of shipments at an October meeting of paper recyclers.
Members of the Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) met in Bonita Springs, Fla., in October for the chapter’s 43rd fall chapter meeting. Sessions touched upon several industry issues, including mill quality standards and the status of export markets.
A session entitled “ONP Recovery: Mill Demand for Consistent Quality” offered presentations from several people involved in the recycling of the Old Newspaper (ONP) grade. Andy Rivinus, a market development manager with Weyerhaeuser, pointed out that ONP quality is diminishing from its mills are reporting. “ONP contamination has increased from 5 percent to 6.7 percent,” he remarked. “Daily pulp and reject volumes to the landfill have increased,” he added, noting that, “most of our landfill volume [consists of] other recyclable materials that were not correctly sorted from the commingled stream.”
ISRI President Robin Wiener moderated a session focusing on trade with China and dealing with new import rules taking effect in that nation.
Baolong Quin, CEO of CCIC North America (China Commodities Import Corporation) presented the concerns of the Chinese government regarding the importation of non-recyclable material and waste classified as recyclables. He stressed that the government has strict control standards to which importers must adhere.
ISRI President Wiener indicated that the ISRI Web site contained many translated documents from the Chinese government to assist exporters in understanding Chinese regulations. The session provided participants with a first-hand view of the Chinese government position on these issues and the opportunity to interact with a top CCIC official.
David Lee, a vice president with Ralison International, Diamond Bar, Calif., provided an overview of the growth of the Chinese economy in macro terms as well as the growth of the paper sector and its increasing recovered fiber needs.
An equipment-related session entitled “Purchase or Patch” was presented as a question-and-answer session with representatives from a range of baler, conveyor, sorting system and wire suppliers to the paper recycling industry. The panel, moderated by Joe Stover of First Capital Fibers Inc., York, Pa., gave participants a chance to ask panelists questions about equipment repair, replacement and maintenance.