Old News Paper – (ONP)

ONP Grades

There are four grades of newspapers commonly recycled. According to the latest (2011) Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Scrap Specifications Circular, these grades are defined as:

1. 1. (6) Old NewspaperConsists of sorted newspapers and other acceptable papers as typically generated by voluntary collection and curbside collection programs.
      Prohibitive Materials may not exceed 2%
      Outthrows plus prohibitives may not exceed 4%
      Other acceptable papers may not exceed 30%
   2. (7) Regular News, De-ink Quality (#7 ONP)Consists of sorted, fresh newspapers, not sunburned, and other acceptable papers. This grade may contain magazines.
      Prohibitive Materials may not exceed 1%
      Outthrows plus prohibitives may not exceed 3%
      Other acceptable papers may not exceed 20%
   3. (8) Special News, De-ink Quality (#8 ONP)Consists of sorted, fresh newspapers, not sunburned, and other acceptable papers. This grade is to be relatively free from magazines and contain not more than the normal percentage of rotogravure and colored sections.
      Prohibitive Materials may not exceed 1%
      Outthrows plus prohibitives may not exceed 2%
      Other acceptable papers may not exceed 10%
   4. (9) Over-Issue News (OI or OIN)Consists of unused, overrun newspapers printed on newsprint, containing not more than the normal percentage of rotogravure and colored sections.
      Prohibitive Materials – None permitted
      Outthrows plus prohibitives – None permitted

What is ONP used for?

ONP is recycled primarily into newsprint. In fact, your newspapers may already have some recycled content. In 2010 Americans recycled 72% of the category ONP/mechanical papers (AF&PA).

What can I do to maximize the value of my ONP?

First and foremost, keep it dry. Too much water will start the re-pulping process right before your eyes! Baled newsprint is penalized for excessive moisture content as well, because it makes the bales heavier.

Sunlight “sunburns” newsprint – look for signs of yellowing. Good quality old news print for recycling will look just like the a fresh newspaper.

Beware of contamination, both soiling, and the addition of paper or other trash which doesn’t belong in the grade. An excess of either of these can cause your paper to be downgraded, because it will be unsuitable for recycling back into new newspapers.