Materials
By the ton or by the piece
The first question about any recyclable is how it is counted. Weight-priced materials live and die by the index, moisture and the scale. Unit-priced items live and die by grading and culls. The clauses that matter follow from that.
| Material | Priced | What moves the money | Clauses to read first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baled cardboard (OCC) | Per ton | Priced per ton, usually off a regional monthly index. Weight, moisture and contamination drive the money. | index reference, moisture, contamination and rejection |
| Used wood pallets | Per unit | Priced per pallet by grade and size. Sorting rules and culls decide the money. | material specification, load minimums, weights and tickets |
| Gaylord boxes | Per unit | Reusable boxes are bought per box by size, wall count and condition. Damaged ones go to the bale. | material specification, load minimums, contamination and rejection |
| IBC totes | Per unit | Bought per tote by condition and prior contents. Residue rules can decide whether they can be shipped at all. | material specification, contamination and rejection, title and risk |
| Steel, plastic and fiber drums | Per unit | Bought per drum by material, head type and prior contents, or as scrap when not reusable. | material specification, contamination and rejection, title and risk |
| Stretch film (LDPE wrap) | Per ton | Baled clear film is sold by weight. Colour, labels, tape and dirt decide whether anyone pays for it. | material specification, contamination and rejection, load minimums |
One site, several buyers
A distribution center often generates three or four of these at once. A cardboard buyer may offer to take the pallets and totes too, but specialist buyers often grade unit items more finely. Keep unit-priced items out of a cardboard exclusive unless they are priced in it; see exclusivity.
When you are ready, one bid request per material lets buyers who specialise in it compete.