AF&PA Reveals 65.4 Percent of Paper Consumed in U.S. Was Recovered for Recycling in 2014
WASHINGTON—May 12, 2015—The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced that 65.4 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling in 2014.
U.S. paper recovery rate statistics are available at www.paperrecycles.org/statistics.
"U.S. paper recovery’s ongoing success is possible thanks to the voluntary, market-driven product recovery system," said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.
Mark Gardner, AF&PA board chairman and Sappi North America president and CEO, also noted, "Industry education programs and initiatives, and the millions of Americans who recycle every day help ensure continuously high paper recovery rates."
The annual paper recovery rate has nearly doubled since 1990 and the industry has set a goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery by 2020 as part of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative. Paper recovery for recycling helps extend the useful life of paper and paper-based packaging products, making it an integral part of the industry’s sustainability story.
For more information about paper recycling and AF&PA’s commitment to sustainability, visit paperrecycles.org.
About the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.
Source: AF&PA.
