AF&PA Survey: 96% of Americans Have Access to Community Paper Recycling
WASHINGTON, DC—March 11, 2015—The American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA) 2014 Community Access Survey shows that overall consumer access to community paper and paperboard recycling in the United States reached 96 percent, up from 87 percent in 2010. The survey evaluated 12 separate grades of paper and paperboard, which all showed access increases. Access for nine of the 12 grades is now at or above 90 percent.
The executive summary of the survey is available at: http://paperrecycles.org/sustainability/2014-af-pa-community-access-survey
“Access to paper recycling in the United States continues to increase—which helps to recover valuable resources, extend the useful life of fiber and make new products,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “In addition, we’re pleased to see significant increases in access to recycling for different paper grades.”
The survey results also showed that single-stream recovery has grown in use. Eighty percent of Americans now have access to single-stream collection, a rise from 65 percent in 2010.
Access to curbside and/or drop-off paper and paperboard recycling programs is an important component in reaching the industry’s goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery by 2020. Consumers’ having broad access to paper recycling demonstrates the success of voluntary recycling infrastructure.
AF&PA’s Community Access Survey is a comprehensive national study that measures and tracks the growth of access to community-level paper and paperboard recycling in the United States. It is the latest in a series commissioned by AF&PA and conducted since 1994.
For other information and tips on paper recycling, free classroom resources, statistics and more, visit paperrecycles.org.
About The American Forest & Paper Association
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: American Forest & Paper Association.
