AF&PA reports increase to US paper recovery rate

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, has announced that 66.8 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2015.

 U.S. paper recovery rate statistics are available at www.paperrecycles.org/statistics.

“Industry efforts; the voluntary, market-driven recovery system; and the millions of Americans who make the decision to recycle every day have helped to keep U.S. paper recovery at continuously high levels,” AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman says.

“Our industry will continue to support and implement education programs and initiatives to inform consumers about the importance of paper recycling and encourage the continued expansion of access to paper recycling nationwide,” says AF&PA board Chairman and Packaging Corp. of America Chairman and CEO Mark Kowlzan.

The association says the annual paper recovery rate has nearly doubled since 1990 and the industry has set a goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery for recycling by 2020 as part of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative. Paper recycling helps to extend the useful life of paper and paper-based packaging products, making it integral the industry’s sustainability story, AF&PA adds.

More information on paper recycling and AF&PA’s sustainability efforts, visit http://paperrecycles.org.