5202 - Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock):

This HTS category, 5202, specifically addresses various forms of cotton waste. This includes materials that arise from the manufacturing or processing of cotton, such as scraps, trimmings, and fibers that are no longer suitable for direct use in new textile production. Yarn waste, which encompasses broken threads and remnants from spinning or weaving, is also included, as is garnetted stock, which is cotton material that has been mechanically broken down into a fibrous state, typically for re-processing into new yarns or non-woven fabrics.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings at the root level of the HTS is straightforward. While other root-level categories might cover live animals, raw agricultural products, or finished manufactured goods, Chapter 52, and specifically heading 5202, is dedicated solely to waste products derived from cotton. The scope is narrowly defined to materials that are considered byproducts or remnants of cotton processing, rather than raw cotton itself or finished cotton textiles.

Within heading 5202, further subclassification is provided to differentiate types of cotton waste. The primary subdivision separates "Yarn waste (including thread waste)" from "Other." This distinction is crucial for importers and exporters as it allows for more precise classification based on the origin and form of the waste. The "Other" category would encompass cotton waste that is not specifically yarn waste, such as fabric scraps, carding waste, and other fibrous material unsuitable for direct reuse in its current form.