AF&PA: 46 Million Tons of Paper was Recycled in 2023

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to the most recent data released by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the United States' paper recycling rates have been steadily rising over the past few decades and have stayed high.

RELATED NEWS:

AF&PA: U.S. Containerboard Output Jumped in Q3

AF&PA Celebrated National Forest Products Week

In 2023, 46 million tons of paper were recycled. In the United States, the recycling rate for cardboard was 71-76%, while the recycling rate for paper was 65-69%. Almost 33 million tons of cardboard were recycled in the United States last year. Paper and packaging recovered for recycling from a variety of streams, including residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional, are included in the aforementioned.

The decades-long investments and advancements made by the paper recycling sector have contributed to the high recycling rates by removing more paper from waste streams for recycling. According to estimates, 79% of Americans have access to a home curbside recycling program in their community.

Newspapers, tissue goods including toilet paper and paper towels, and food and medication cartons are just a few of the necessities made from recycled paper. Almost half of the recycled paper was used to make cardboard in 2023. According to AF&PA, recycled paper is also exported.