Paper recycling, graded and placed.

OCC, mixed paper, sorted office paper — BlackBridge moves paper between generating facilities and domestic + export paper-mill end users.

Grades we place

• OCC (Old Corrugated Containers)
• Double Sorted OCC
• Hard Mixed Paper
• Mixed Paper
• Sorted Office Paper (SOP / HS)
• Sorted White Ledger
• Newspaper
• DLK
• SRPN
• #56 Coated Book
• SBS

Why a broker, not a recycler

Over 5,200 paper loads placed since 2011 — both to domestic mills and to export markets. Different grades route differently, and knowing which mill wants what is the whole job.

OCC from a distribution center grades higher than mixed OCC from a multi-stream program. Mill economics depend on contamination, moisture, and bale consistency — we know what each mill accepts, and we get paid on getting that right.

If you generate paper at volume, we consolidate across grades so you have one relationship and one invoice. If you’re a mill sourcing fiber, we bring consistent grade + volume with documentation.

Common questions

What does OCC grading actually look like?

OCC is graded by contamination (non-corrugated content), moisture, and bale condition. Clean OCC from a distribution center grades higher than mixed OCC from a multi-stream recycling program.

Can you handle small-to-medium paper volumes?

Yes — paper supply aggregates well. Small generators often combine loads through us to reach mill-scale volumes.

Do you handle both domestic and export paper placements?

Yes. Our paper flow is split across domestic mills and export markets. We route based on grade, volume, timing, and price.

What’s your minimum for a paper shipment?

We aggregate across suppliers to reach mill-scale volumes. Tell us what you have — we’ll work with realistic volumes.

Ready to move a load? Get a quote →    Or call 800-449-5084.

Frequently Asked Questions — Paper & Fiber

What paper grades does BBR buy?

We buy OCC (old corrugated containers, grade 11), double-sorted OCC (grade 12), mixed paper (grade 1 and 2), sorted office paper (SOP, grade 37), sorted white ledger (SWL, grade 40), coated book stock, and newsprint. We also handle hard-to-place grades like wet-strength, poly-coated, and printer’s overruns — call before you landfill it.

What’s the minimum load size for paper?

Standard truckload is 40,000-44,000 lbs baled. We can route partial loads on backhauls if you’re in our Northeast lanes, but full loads price better. If you generate 1-2 trailers a month consistently, we’ll schedule recurring pickups and lock in pricing for 30-60 day windows so you can plan around it.

Do you provide trailers for paper pickup?

Yes. We drop trailers at your dock for live-load or drop-and-hook on most truckload accounts. Standard 53′ dry vans for baled paper, walking floors for loose. Trailer rental is built into the material price — no separate demurrage as long as you flip the trailer within agreed turn time (typically 3-5 business days).

How does mill pricing flow back to me?

We quote at your dock based on current mill paying levels minus our freight cost and brokerage margin. When mills move pricing — up or down — we requote on your next load, not retroactively on loads already sold. You see the published pricing trend in your monthly statement so there are no surprises.

Can you handle contaminated or wet bales?

Depends on the contamination. Mild moisture and a few percent prohibitives we can usually place at a downgrade. Heavy plastic, food residue, or saturated bales get rejected at the mill and cost everyone money — tell us up front and we’ll route to the right outlet (sometimes a tissue mill or export buyer takes what a containerboard mill won’t).

Why use BBR instead of selling directly to a paper mill?

Mills want full truckloads, consistent grade, and clean bales — and they pay best to suppliers moving 5+ loads a week. If you’re under that volume or your grade mix shifts, broker pricing usually beats direct because we aggregate your loads with others, run our own freight, and have buyer relationships across 30+ mills. You get one point of contact and one settlement.