Many businesses and institutions in the food service, hospitality, and educational sectors receive products in unlined paper shipping sacks, also known as multiwall sacks. More than 1 billion sacks are used each year, most commonly as packaging for food, agricultural, and industrial products. The Paper Shipping Sack Manufacturers Association (PSSMA) recently announced that businesses and institutions can recycle clean, unlined paper shipping sacks with corrugated cardboard. They provide a high quality source of fiber desired by cardboard and paper manufacturers.

The PSSMA recycling webpage provides a number of resources on how to properly manage this waste stream, including separation practice guidelines and a potential savings estimator tool. In order to divert this valuable material from disposal, it is important to empty all contents from the sacks before collecting them with other corrugated materials to be recycled. For more information, please review the PSSMA’s recycling guidance, informational videos, and always consult with your recycling service provider.

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) is a recycling assistance program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. RecyclingWorks can help your business or institution start or expand a recycling program and identify paper and cardboard recyclers in your area through the Find-a-Recycler tool. To speak to a recycling expert, call our hotline: (888) 254-5525 or email us at info@recyclingworksma.com.