Recycling Industry Terms Explained

The industry term for cardboard boxes, the most common commercial recycling grade. OCC is graded by cleanliness and dryness; contaminated OCC is downgraded or rejected at the mill.

High-value white office paper, copy paper, letterhead, envelopes. SOP is one of the most valuable paper grades and must be kept separate from cardboard and mixed paper to maintain its value.

Newspapers, inserts, and catalogs. A lower-grade paper commodity than SOP. Volume has declined significantly as digital publishing has grown, but it still has recycling value when properly sorted.

A catch-all grade for paper that doesn't fit higher-value categories, junk mail, cereal boxes, kraft bags, and mixed office paper. The lowest paper grade, but still has value at sufficient volume.

A recycling service model where the recycling company drops an empty trailer at your dock. You fill it on your schedule. When full, you call for a swap. No driver waiting, no time pressure. Ideal for high-volume generators.

Shipping recyclable materials directly to the paper mill rather than through a broker. Mill-direct relationships typically yield higher prices because the middleman margin is eliminated.

One of the most recyclable and valuable plastic types. Common in milk jugs, detergent bottles, and industrial containers. HDPE holds strong commodity value and is always in demand.

The clear plastic used in water bottles and food containers. One of the most recycled plastics globally. PET bales command strong commodity prices when clean and sorted.

The most common pallet size in the US, 48 inches by 40 inches. GMA pallets are the standard for grocery and consumer goods distribution. CRI buys and sells GMA pallets by the truckload.

A documented record tracking who handled your materials at every step, from pickup through destruction. Required for HIPAA and FACTA compliance in document shredding programs.

Metal containing iron, steel, iron, and related alloys. Ferrous scrap is the most common industrial metal waste. It's magnetic, which makes sorting straightforward.

Metals without iron, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, lead, and zinc. Non-ferrous metals typically command higher commodity prices than ferrous scrap.

A machine that compresses cardboard or paper into dense, uniform bales for more efficient transport and higher commodity value. CRI can provide or recommend the right baler size for your volume.

The percentage of total waste generated that is diverted from landfills through recycling, composting, or reuse. CRI clients average 85%+ diversion across managed recycling programs.

An official document confirming that your confidential materials were securely destroyed on a specific date, including the weight destroyed. Required for HIPAA and FACTA compliance audits.