Use the Paper Shipping Sack Manufacturers’ Association’s (PSSMA’s) guide and the advice of your local paper recycler to begin recycling your empty unlined paper shipping sacks. You can feel good that you are providing a valuable resource to U.S. paper mills that collectively are striving to recycle 70% of the paper used in the U.S. by 2020, while you are keeping material out of landfills and improving your own bottom line by reducing waste hauling fees.
What are paper shipping sacks used for?
Unlined paper shipping sacks, often called multiwall sacks, provide efficient and economical packaging of a wide range of food, agricultural, and consumer products.
Why should I recycle them?
Recycling used unlined paper shipping sacks (1) reduces waste requiring disposal and (2) provides an exceptionally good source of fiber for manufacturing new corrugated cardboard boxes and other paper products.
What type of paper shipping sacks qualify for recycling with OCC?
Unlined paper shipping sacks containing dry food ingredients and products used in food manufacturing and processing industries are easiest to recycle. These sacks do not have plastic film linings or contain objectionable residues when shaken clean.
How do I recycle them?
The first step: Check with your local recycling company to make sure they will accept the sacks and find out if they have any guidelines for collection. Separate used sacks from non-recyclable materials; make sure all the contents are shaken out. This is one of the most important things you can do to increase the sacks’ value in the recycling stream. Collect unlined paper shipping sacks together with OCC. Sacks and boxes can be commingled, baled and collected together.
Why are they collected with OCC?
Most unlined paper shipping sacks are used in facilities or businesses that already recycle OCC. For many businesses, this will be the easiest way to keep sacks out of the landfill because so many businesses already separate their OCC for recycling and many paper recyclers are familiar with this practice
What’s in it for me?
Recycling used paper shipping sacks can improve your bottom line. Separating them from non-recyclable waste is often all it takes to start keeping them out of the landfill. Pick-up of OCC for recycling is widely available to businesses throughout the U.S., and clean, unlined paper shipping sacks used for food products can be recycled along with it.
Where can I get more information?
PSSMA has published a guide to help you evaluate the potential for recycling used sacks, and for using the industry recycling emblem. The guide can be viewed online at www.PSSMA.org. To learn what types of unlined paper shipping sacks are most valuable to recycling mills and will provide the largest financial benefit when recovered, see below and online at www.PSSMA.org. Also, some paper recyclers specialize in recycling paper shipping sacks. So, check with your local recycling contractor before you begin collecting the sacks for recycling.
How can I tell if a paper shipping sack qualifies for recycling with OCC?
Only unlined paper shipping sacks used for food products may be marked with the distinctive recycling emblem shown below. Look for it to determine at a glance if the unlined paper shipping sacks being used are recyclable with OCC. To identify an unlined paper shipping sack without the recycling logo, just tear it and inspect the separated layers to determine if a plastic film barrier or plastic liner is absent from the sack construction.
What types of paper shipping sacks are most valuable for recycling markets
The most valuable are unlined sacks, shaken clean of residue, that have been used for food ingredients. A high-quality batch contains few if any sacks with string or closures. Check locally for acceptability. Recycle acceptable sacks with OCC, or separately as agreed with your paper recycler.
Are there any paper shipping sacks that cannot be recycled at all?
Yes. Sacks manufactured with wet-strength paper or sacks used to package hazardous chemicals, building products or other objectionable materials cannot be recycled. Neither can sacks containing any residues. Potato sacks are the only food ingredient sacks made with wet-strength paper. Wet-strength paper is also used for lawn and leaf refuse bags and to package animal bedding. Sacks containing wet-strength paper are usually not accepted by mills for recycling.