WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released results of their 2010 Community Recycling Survey.  The study shows that 87 percent of the population has access to curbside and/or drop-off paper and paperboard recycling programs. 

“We are encouraged that this rate has held steady through the global recession and population growth that have occurred since the last survey was conducted in 2007,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.

Paper recycling access was an important factor in helping the industry exceed its 60 percent recovery goal three years ahead of schedule.  In 2009, a record-high 63.4 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. 

The AF&PA Community Survey is a comprehensive national study that measures and tracks the growth of access to community-level paper and paperboard recycling in the U.S.  The 2010 study is the latest in a series of such studies funded by AF&PA and conducted by R. W. Beck since 1994.  Data gathered in the survey helps guide AF&PA’s work with partner organizations to promote and increase paper recovery.   

Key findings from the survey include:

• 87 percent of the U.S. population (273 million people) have access to curbside and/or drop-off paper recycling programs, including:
• 63 percent of the U.S. population (193 million people) have access to curbside recycling programs
• 68 percent of the populations (213 million) have access to drop-off recycling programs
• Increased access for some grades collected in existing paper/paperboard recycling programs
• Continued growth in curbside recycling programs employing single-stream collection systems

Click here to view the results of the Survey.

To learn more about the 2010 AF&PA Community Survey, along with AF&PA recycling programs, resources, and statistics, visit www.paperrecycles.org.

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The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners.  Our companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment.  The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP.  Industry companies produce about $175 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries.  The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 48 states.  Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.