Formal Definitions Found in RCRA Section 6002 about the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline Program

This page contains the formal definitions found in RCRA Section 6002 for various types of paper fiber content described in the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) Program. For more CPG Program information, see our Definitions, Specifications, and Other Guidance about the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline Program page.

Definitions:

1. Postconsumer fiber means:

• Paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes from retail stores, office buildings, homes, and so forth, after they have passed through their end-usage as a consumer item, including: used corrugated boxes; old newspapers; old magazines; mixed waste paper; tabulating cards; and used cordage; and
• All paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that enter and are collected from municipal solid waste.
• Postconsumer fiber does not include fiber derived from printers' over-runs, converters' scrap, and over-issue publications.

2. Recovered fiber means:

Postconsumer fiber such as:

• Paper, paperboard, and fibrous materials from retail stores, office buildings, homes, and so forth, after they have passed through their end-usage as a consumer item, including: used corrugated boxes; old newspapers; old magazines; mixed waste paper; tabulating cards; and used cordage; and
• All paper, paperboard, and fibrous materials that enter and are collected from municipal solid waste, and

Manufacturing wastes such as:

• Dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets) including: envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming, and other converting operations; bag, box, and carton manufacturing wastes; and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and
• Repulped finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters, or others.

3. Mill broke means any paper waste generated in a paper mill prior to completion of the papermaking process. It is usually returned directly to the pulping process. Mill broke is excluded from the definition of "recovered fiber."