Is newspaper (ONP) worth more or less than cardboard by weight?
Short answer: Newspaper (ONP — old newsprint) and cardboard (OCC) are priced on different, independently moving markets, and neither is consistently worth more than the other — it depends on current demand for newsprint recycling versus packaging material, so the honest answer is to check current pricing for both rather than assume one is always better.
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Newsprint recycling demand is tied to how much new newspaper and related low-grade paper products are being produced, which has been in long-term decline in many markets — while cardboard/OCC demand is tied to packaging and e-commerce shipping, a very different and often stronger demand driver.
Why you shouldn’t assume one is always better
Depending on regional mill demand and current market conditions, either grade can be temporarily worth more per tonne than the other — there’s no fixed rule that cardboard always beats newsprint, or vice versa, despite what older assumptions from the paper industry might suggest.
What to actually do
If you’re generating both, keep them separate — mixing ONP into an OCC load, or vice versa, generally just gets the mixed load priced at whichever is the lower current rate — and check current pricing for each specifically before assuming which is more valuable this month.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Listing ONP and OCC as separate lots on ScrapTrade means each gets priced against buyers actually looking for that specific grade, rather than an assumption baked into a single “paper scrap” listing.
Ready to sell or source paper and cardboard scrap without the guesswork? ScrapTrade connects verified buyers and sellers with escrow-protected payments and transparent weighing.
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