ISRI Declares New Protocol and Certification System for Paper Products

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Washington-headquartered Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) announced development of a new recyclability protocol and certification system. Initially focused on paper products, the system will be phased in over the next year and will be expanded to other product categories as well.

Currently, ISRI is engaged in conducting a thorough review of the existing certifications and standards. In the next phase, a survey of material recovery facilities (MRFs) across the nation will be carried out in order to assess the inventory of packaging as well as the variances in technology and capacity of various facilities across regions.

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Based on the collected data, ISRI will develop a certification protocol which will include testing methodologies and procedures as well as the fully documented and transparent application process for obtaining certification. Once developed, the protocol will aid packaging manufacturers in clearly understanding the recyclability of materials even in the design stage.

ISRI stated that it will have consultations with leading organizations including the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the Foodservice Packaging Institute, The Recycling Partnership and other stakeholders, in developing the protocol.

The Institute announced that it has appointed Atlanta-based Moore & Associates as a third-party consultant.