Materials & Grades of Recyclable Materials

Each material behaves differently in terms of volume, contamination risk, labor requirements, and downstream value. Successful programs account for these differences instead of treating all recyclables the same.

How are metals sorted and graded in recycling programs?

Metals rarely dominate floor space the way cardboard or plastics do, but operationally, they behave very differently. In most facilities, metal waste is generated intermittently — during maintenance work, equipment replacements, line changes, or routine repairs — rather than as a constant stream.

Because metal generation is sporadic, it’s often handled informally. Scrap bins appear near maintenance areas, old parts get staged near docks, and beverage cans are collected inconsistently. Without intentional separation, high-value metals are easily mixed into lower-value scrap or even disposed of entirely.

From a grading perspective, metals are sorted into two primary categories based on magnetic properties, but the real operational challenge is visibility and discipline, not classification.

How are metals are graded and categorized?

Metal grading starts with separating materials that respond to magnets from those that don’t. This separation determines processing requirements, downstream markets, and rebate potential.

Metals are typically sorted into:

• Ferrous metals (magnetic)

• Non-ferrous metals (non-magnetic)

Although metals usually represent lower volume than cardboard or plastic, they often carry higher per-ton value, making proper separation financially meaningful even at modest quantities.

Common recyclable metals in commercial programs

In commercial and industrial construction environments, metal recycling usually centers around materials generated through operations, maintenance, and consumption rather than packaging alone.

Common recyclable metals include:

• Aluminum, including used beverage cans

• Steel and tin

• Copper and insulated wire

• Mixed industrial scrap

Each of these materials has different value profiles and tolerance for mixing, which is why clear separation matters.

Why does metal separation matters operationally?

Metal separation affects more than just rebate checks — it determines whether metal recycling feels worthwhile or gets abandoned over time.

When metals are mixed together or combined with other material streams, non-ferrous value is diluted, processing costs increase, and contamination spreads into otherwise clean recycling streams. This often leads facilities to conclude that “metal recycling doesn’t move the needle,” when the issue is actually separation.

Proper separation can:

• Increase rebate value

• Reduce processing costs

• Prevent contamination of other material streams

Even small volumes of non-ferrous metals can materially impact recycling economics when they’re kept visible, separated, and handled intentionally.

How are wood and pallets handled in recycling programs?

Wood materials — especially pallets — behave very differently from cardboard, paper, or plastics in commercial environments. Pallets are bulky, irregular, and slow to move, which means they tend to accumulate quickly and take up valuable dock and yard space.

In many facilities, pallets start as a secondary concern. They’re stacked wherever space allows, moved occasionally, and often handled differently by each shift. Over time, that lack of structure turns pallets into a recurring operational issue: blocked dock doors, safety concerns, and inconsistent disposal costs.

Because of this, wood materials are rarely managed through traditional single-stream recycling. Instead, they require intentional recovery and handling strategies that reflect how they move — or don’t move — through the operation.

How are wood materials are typically handled?

Rather than being “recycled” in the traditional sense, wood materials are usually routed through recovery, reuse, or processing programs based on condition and volume. The goal is to preserve value where possible and reduce unnecessary disposal.

Wood is typically handled through:

• Recovery and reuse

• Repair and resale

• Grinding or processing

• Disposal when recovery is not viable

Treating all wood the same eliminates value and increases handling costs.

Common wood and pallet categories

Operationally, wood materials fall into a few clear categories based on condition and reusability. Identifying these categories early helps facilities avoid unnecessary disposal and keeps pallet areas manageable.

Common wood categories include:

• Reusable pallets

• Repairable pallets

• Scrap pallets

• Crates and dunnage

Mixing these categories together usually results in higher costs and missed recovery opportunities.

When does pallet management becomes its own operational stream?

As pallet volume increases, pallets stop behaving like incidental waste and start behaving like inventory. At that point, recovery and resale often outperform disposal or grinding — both financially and from a sustainability standpoint.

Many facilities eventually manage pallets as a dedicated operational stream, with defined staging areas, regular recovery schedules, and clear handling standards. When pallet management is structured, dock flow improves, safety risks decrease, and waste costs become more predictable.

What are mixed and specialty recyclable materials?

Mixed and specialty materials are where most recycling programs stop being straightforward.

These materials don’t move in predictable volumes, don’t fit neatly into standard containers, and often lack clear on-site ownership. They’re generated inconsistently, handled by different teams, and frequently staged “temporarily” until someone decides what to do with them. That’s why they tend to accumulate in corners, cages, or yards — and why they often become a source of confusion or frustration.

Unlike cardboard or pallets, mixed and specialty materials rarely work inside standard recycling streams. Instead, they require custom handling, clear standards, and often brokerage support to be managed effectively.

What makes a material “mixed” or “specialty”?

From an operational standpoint, these materials share a few traits:

• They don’t generate enough volume for routine pickup

• They’re easy to contaminate

• They require specific downstream processing

• They don’t tolerate casual mixing with other recyclables

Because of this, attempting to treat them like standard recyclables usually leads to rejected loads or increased disposal costs.

Common mixed and specialty materials found in commercial facilities

Most facilities encounter a similar set of specialty materials over time, often as operations evolve or product mix changes.

Examples include:

• Electronics and e-waste (monitors, devices, components)

• Foam packaging (EPS, protective inserts)

• Textiles (rags, uniforms, protective materials)

• Composite materials (multi-layer packaging, bonded materials)

• Food-contaminated packaging

Each of these materials requires a different handling strategy, and mixing them together almost always eliminates recoverability.

Why do these materials often cause recycling programs to break down?

Mixed and specialty materials are rarely the largest waste stream but they’re often the most disruptive.

Inconsistent handling, unclear standards, and limited downstream markets make these materials difficult to manage without a plan. When facilities try to recycle them opportunistically, loads are frequently rejected, labor time increases, and confidence in the recycling program erodes.

Operationally, these materials need clear decision rules: whether to separate, broker, store temporarily, or dispose. When those rules aren’t defined, mixed materials become a catch-all that undermines otherwise successful recycling streams.

How do material grades impact recycling programs?

Material grade is not just a quality issue, it is an operational lever that influences how smoothly a facility runs day to day.

On the floor, grading decisions affect how materials move, where they accumulate, and how much labor is required to keep recycling from becoming a constant interruption. At scale, grading determines whether recycling feels predictable and controlled or reactive and frustrating.

Facilities that treat grading as an afterthought often experience the same issues: overflowing containers, emergency pickups, rejected loads, and unclear cost drivers. Facilities that design programs around grade see recycling function as a support system rather than a disruption

Material grades directly affect:

• Rebate value

• Equipment requirements (balers, compactors)

• Pickup frequency

• Hauling costs

• Landfill diversion rates

As volume increases, grading decisions determine whether recycling simplifies operations or creates friction. Cleaner, well-sorted materials move more efficiently and produce more predictable outcomes.

How does FV Recycling manage material grading at scale?

FV Recycling approaches material grading as a systems problem, not a sorting problem.

Programs are designed around:

• Actual material volume and flow

• The right recycling equipment for each stream

• Clear grading standards for on-site teams

• Market access and material brokerage

• Continuous optimization as operations grow

Rather than recycling everything, FV helps facilities recycle the right materials, the right way — ensuring programs remain cost-effective, compliant, and scalable.

For facilities ready to move beyond trial-and-error recycling, the next step is understanding how their materials actually flow today and what needs to change to support scale.

Get started with a material flow and grading assessment to identify opportunities, reduce friction, and build a recycling program that works with your operation, not against it.