Indonesia Wraps Up Contamination Thresholds for Imported Recovered Fiber

As per ISRI specifications, mixed paper bales are allowed up to 3% outthrows whereas OCC is allowed up to 5% outthrows.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Following months of uncertainty with regards to restrictions on fiber imports into the country, the Indonesian government announced two separate categories to evaluate contamination in imported loads.

In accordance with the latest communication by inspection agencies to recovered fiber exporters, the Indonesian authorities have decided to adopt a 0.5% contamination limit on prohibitive. Accordingly, prohibitive will be subject to 0.5% contamination limit per load, the implementation of which will be with immediate effect. Meantime, contamination in outthrows will be evaluated on a material-by-material basis using commonly referenced industry commodity specifications. As per ISRI specifications, mixed paper bales are allowed up to 3% outthrows whereas OCC is allowed up to 5% outthrows.

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However, Adina Renee Adler, assistant vice president of international affairs at ISRI stated that no official documentation to this effect has been shared with it so far. Representatives from ISRI and The Recycling Association plan to visit Indonesia in September, so as to get more clarity on the import specifications.

The Indonesian administration had introduced tighter limits of 0.5% or less for contamination in recovered fiber imports during the month of June this year. Later on, it had changed its decision to stick to ISRI specifications, thereby setting a standard of 1 to 2 percent for prohibitives and 3 to 4 percent for outhrows. 

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