How2Recycle, a membership group that provides standardized labeling to help consumers correctly recycle materials, has approved WIST as a provider of repulpability and recyclability testing for certain unbleached coated packaging materials such as carton board and corrugated board. 

Many people assume those packaging materials are always recyclable, but coatings to enhance certain performance features may hamper their recycling. To be recyclable, at least 80 percent of fiber in the material must be recoverable by a pulper and the recovered fiber must be of a quality usable in papermaking.  

Manufacturers can have their packaging materials tested by WIST to determine the "technical recyclability" of the package, which is one important element of demonstrating recyclability. 

Independent, third party testing and certification such as the WIST OCC equivalency (old corrugated containers) repulpability and recyclability tests may be used by companies to help them meet sustainability goals. Many companies, in response to consumer pressure, are announcing plans to increase the amount of material that can be diverted from landfills, such as by re-use, recycling or composting. For example, Coca Cola has announced a goal to make all of its consumer packaging 100 percent recyclable by 2025. 

To inquire about WIST repulpability and recyclability testing, contact Lindsey Hoffman, WIST laboratory and papermaking project specialist.

Register by March 3 to save: Secure your place in the next offering of our two-day Hands-On Papermaking Course. Instructor Gerry Ring, professor emeritus and former chair of the UW-Stevens Point Department of Paper Science and Chemical Engineering, will take you through important fundamentals of papermaking, covering topics such as wood fiber and chemical composition, tree anatomy, pulping processes, stock preparation and more. In afternoon hands-on sessions, you'll complete guided exercises on the university's pilot paper machine, seeing the processes in action. 

This WIST course is designed for anyone who needs the basics, transferred from another industry, is new to operations, does maintenance, or supervises employees.   

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Classroom and field instruction: Whether you run a large-scale facility or manage your backyard compost pile, are new to composting or an experienced operator, this three-day school will help you improve results. Check the school website for a list of topics covered. 

New for 2020 is a one-day program that meets the annual training requirements of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for source-separated organic material compost facility personnel. $250 to attend July 8th only.

More information and registration