6310.10 - Sorted:

This HTS category, 6310.10, specifically pertains to sorted used or new rags, scrap twine, cordage, rope, and cables, as well as worn-out articles of these textile materials. The "sorted" designation is key, implying that these materials have undergone some degree of selection or grouping based on criteria such as fiber content, condition, or intended reuse. This includes materials like pre-consumer textile scraps that are sorted for recycling into new products, or post-consumer rags that have been cleaned and graded for specific industrial or domestic purposes.

This category is distinguished from its sibling, 6310.90 ("Other"), by the explicit emphasis on sorted materials. While 6310.90 would cover any unsorted or generally described rags and scrap textile materials, 6310.10 narrows the scope to those items that have been specifically identified and categorized. This sorting process is a crucial factor for classification, as it often dictates the intended use and value of the material.

Within 6310.10, two subcategories further refine the classification. Subcategory 6310.10.10.00 covers sorted rags and scrap textile materials specifically of wool or fine animal hair, highlighting a particular material composition as the primary distinguishing factor. The remaining sorted materials, not falling under the wool or fine animal hair designation, are classified under 6310.10.20 ("Other"). This hierarchical structure allows for precise classification based on both the sorted nature of the material and its constituent fibers.