The company recently revealed that it rejected over 400,000 metric tons of used paperboard and mixed paper in 2015.

The rejection of material is put down to poor quality on either one or both two factors: not meeting non-fiber contamination levels (other materials such as plastic and general waste were in the paper); and secondly, there were excessive levels of moisture.

 

Mark Lyndon has been one of the stronger critics of U.K. supplies for being too wet, partly because large volumes of material are often stored outside. One way the company checks on material is to carry out moisture inspections ahead of purchase.

 

 

An alternative to rejection, adopted by some companies, is to discount the value of the load because of the moisture and impose pre-shipment claims.

 

Despite rejecting 400,000 metric tons, Mark Lyndon reports that it "still exported more than 1.5 million metric tons of high quality material to Lee & Man’s state-of-the-art paper recycling mills in China last year." Lee & Man is the group’s parent mill company.

 

Mark Lyndon U.K. Managing Director Paul Briggs said that "last year our quality processes meant that we did not buy more than 400,000 metric tons of fiber that was offered to us. This was because it contained too high quantities of non-target materials. Alternatively, the moisture levels were too high if bales had been left uncovered in the rain or on damp surfaces or if the material had been collected from open containers. Our team of quality inspectors opened thousands of bales at locations all over the country, to check contamination and measure moisture levels against our criteria. Therefore, we are confident we have one of the best quality processes in the U.K.

 

 "While we still exported 1.5 million metric tons of high quality fiber back on ships that would otherwise have been empty after bringing Chinese manufactured goods to us in the U.K., this proves we would not take any old material even if some of our competitors in the U.K. or abroad might have bought it. We are committed to raising quality and want to take the opportunity to thank our suppliers, the government agencies. and CCIC London that worked with us to ensure the material we exported in 2015 was high quality. We’ll continue to do the same in 2016 and beyond," Briggs continued.

 

Within the U.K., Mark Lyndon has faced potential action from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency over an alleged breach of export regulations regarding paper and paperboard.

 

Briggs told letsrecycle.com: "The situation in Scotland remains the same. We have not been prosecuted. In fact, we are still waiting to see details of the offence and the evidence that supports it. After two years we are no further forward."