AF&PA reports paper recovery rate drops to 65.8 percent in 2017

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, has announced the paper recovery rate in the United States reached 65.8 percent in 2017.

This is a drop from the reported 2016 paper recovery rate of 67.2 percent.

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

“Paper recycling brings continued economic, environmental and social benefits to communities across the country,” says AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “We thank the millions of Americans who choose to recycle every day for their essential contributions to paper recycling’s success.”

Paper recovery for recycling helps extend the useful life of paper and paper-based packaging products, AF&PA says, making it an integral part of the industry’s sustainability story. 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.

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

For more information about paper recycling and AF&PA’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.paperrecycles.org.