markets
materials
What is the WRAP MPR?
The Materials Pricing Report (MPR) was introduced
by WRAP in mid-2004 to improve the transparency
of the markets for recyclable materials, and help
recycling market participants such as councils, waste
management companies, social economy businesses
and reprocessors to achieve the best value for their
materials in recycling markets.
WRAP’s Materials Pricing Report
started collecting news & PAMs
prices since its inception at
mid-2004. Also known as
periodicals & magazines, it is one
of the most traded recovered
paper grades in the recycling
industry. It normally consists of
100% post-consumer material,
according to the Forest
Stewardship Council’s standards
(FSC STD 40.007).
WRAP’s news & PAMs price
refers to the price of grade
no 1.08, mixed newspapers and
magazines 1. It is listed in EN643,
the European List of Standard
Grades of Paper and Board for
Recycling, under ‘ordinary grades’,
and refers to a mixture of
newspapers and magazines,
containing a minimum of 50%
newspapers, with or without glue.
But there are more listed
grades taken into consideration
when referring to news & PAMs
as a whole. As well as mixed
newspapers and magazines 1,
these are: mixed newspaper and
magazines 2 and 3 (which both
refer to a mixture of newspapers
and magazines containing a
The MPR offers a credible, independent and
authoritative source of pricing information
for recyclable materials. It contains pricing
information based on actual transaction data and
market commentary which includes market
intelligence on the key factors and trends driving
the market.
minimum of 60% magazines or
60% newspapers with or without
glue) and newspapers containing
a maximum of 5% coloured
advertisements.
Prices for news & PAMs can
vary regionally. The range can also
vary depending on whether the
product is traded in ex-works
prices, baled or loose, supplied to
a mill or merchant prices usually
referring to exports.
The grade is taken to UK or
foreign mills via waste paper
merchants where, in loose form,
it is used for the manufacture of
recycled newsprint.
Important factors that can
affect the prices of news & PAMs
in the market are oversupply in
mills and contamination. So
presentation of this grade is of
great importance to merchants.
For UK exporters it is vital to
make sure the material is free
from contaminants but also that it
is kept dry, sometimes a difficult
task due to British weather
conditions. Assurance of storage
and transport conditions must be
given to protect against
contamination.
how does it work?
hundreds of
subscribers
share prices
Hundreds of subscribers, from
merchants to processors to
local authority staff, have
signed up to the MPR.
Their details are kept on a
database which MRW manages
for WRAP. It indicates the
individual’s professional
position, the materials they
buy or sell and their contact
details. Subscribers’ names
come up on a rotational basis
and MRW researchers, on
behalf of WRAP, call them in
turn over a number of weeks.
Every week, researchers
record the prices reported to
them and these produce a
range for the individual
grades. A sample of the latest
report is shown on the
previous page, but the more
detailed information, including
graphs to show price movements over time, is sent ONLY
to subscribers every week.
l Sign up by visiting:
MRW.co.uk/WRAPprices
The MPR currently includes these grades
Paper (ex-works):
News & PAMs
(periodicals and
magazines)
OCC (old corrugated
cardboard)
Mixed paper and
board
Multigrade
Over-issue news
44
11 October 2014
(OIN)
Best white no.2
Plastic (ex-works):
Clear PET
Coloured PET
Mixed polymer
Natural HDPE
Mixed HDPE
LDPE 98/2
Ferrous metals
(ex-works):
Grade 0A
Grade 4C
Grade 7B
Grade 10
Non-ferrous metals
(ex-works):
Copper dry bright
wire
Aluminium pure
cuttings
Lead batteries
18/8 stainless steel
solids
Metal cans (ex-works)
Aluminium cans
Steel: steel can/tin
Mixed: aluminium and
steel cans
Glass: bottles/
containers
(delivered):
Clear
Amber
Green
Mixed
Textiles (ex-works):
Banks
Charity shop
Note: Ex-works:
direct from the
supplier, excluding
delivery costs,etc.
Delivered: ex-works
price including all
charges up to the
point of delivery, as
specified either by a
buyer or a seller.
www.mrw.co.uk