US Paper Recovery Rate

The American Forest & Paper Association confirms that 65.8 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2017. 

“Paper is one of the most successfully recovered and recycled commodities in the U.S. because of our strong, market-driven voluntary system,” said AF&PA Board Chairman and GEC Packaging Technologies CEO John Rooney. “Our industry will continue to support and implement education programmes and initiatives that drive awareness and increase access to paper recycling.”

The industry has a goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery for recycling by 2020 as part of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative.

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