Recycling Market Development & Commodity Markets Flashcards

What does 'OCC' stand for in recycling commodity terminology?

Answer: Old Corrugated Containers (cardboard boxes)

OCC (Old Corrugated Containers) refers to used cardboard boxes and is one of the most commonly traded and valuable recovered paper grades.

Which factor creates the most significant price difference between glass color grades in recycling markets?

Answer: Colored glass (brown/green) is harder to reuse in clear glass production, reducing its market value

Clear (flint) cullet commands higher prices because it can be used across all glass color production, while colored cullet is limited to matching-color applications.

What is 'de-manufacturing' in the context of electronics recycling?

Answer: The systematic disassembly of electronic devices to recover valuable components and materials

De-manufacturing involves systematically taking apart electronic devices to sort and recover valuable metals, plastics, and components for downstream processing.

What does 'closed-loop recycling' mean in commodity market terms?

Answer: Materials are recycled back into the same product type they originally came from

Closed-loop recycling means recovered material goes back into making the same product, such as aluminum cans being recycled into new aluminum cans, preserving material quality.

What is the primary reason HDPE #2 natural (clear/white) is worth more than HDPE #2 colored?

Answer: Natural HDPE can be dyed any color during remanufacturing, giving it broader market uses

Natural (unpigmented) HDPE is more versatile because it accepts any dye in remanufacturing, while colored HDPE is limited to products in darker or matching colors.

In recycling commodity trading, what does a 'spot market' transaction mean?

Answer: A one-time sale of material at the current prevailing market price

Spot market transactions are immediate, one-time sales at current market prices, as opposed to forward contracts or long-term agreements with fixed pricing.