WASHINGTON – Entries are now being sought for the 2011 American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Recycling Awards, recognizing outstanding business, community, and school paper recycling programs.

Thanks to the efforts of millions of Americans who recycle paper every day, more paper (by weight) is recovered for recycling from municipal solid waste streams than glass, plastic and aluminum combined. In 2009, a record-high of 63.4 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling.  That’s the equivalent of an impressive 325 pounds for each man, woman, and child in this country.  The AF&PA Recycling Awards offer an opportunity for the industry to recognize those engaged in successful paper recycling programs, and to share their best practices with a national audience. 

Paper recycling is a great environmental success story. Recycling paper reclaims a valuable commodity and improves the environment by removing paper from landfills. In fact, every ton of paper recovered for recycling saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. Through the AF&PA Recycling Awards, the industry recognizes and thanks communities, schools, and businesses who share our goal of increasing the recovery of this renewable and sustainable resource.

Organizations with award-winning programs each receive a $2,000 cash prize, a piece of original paper art, and are promoted in local and national media outlets.  Details regarding award descriptions, criteria, and entry forms are available on the paperrecycles.org website.  The deadline for entries is February 10, 2011. 

Separate AF&PA Recycling Awards are given for business, community, and school (kindergarten - 12th grade) programs.  Past winners of the AF&PA Recycling Awards include Hewlett Packard and Continental Airlines; the cities of Seattle, Washington and Virginia Beach, Virginia; and the school districts of Parkway in Chesterfield, Missouri and Wake County, North Carolina. 

Visit www.paperrecycles.org for detailed case studies of award-winning programs, along with educational materials, videos, statistics, interactive resources, and a free guide to starting a paper recycling program in your area.

Click here for 2011 AF&PA Recycling Awards Contest

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AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, paper, and wood products industry. AF&PA represents companies and related associations that engage in or represent the manufacture of pulp, paper, paperboard, and wood products. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 6 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing output, employs more than one million people, and ranks among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 42 states with an estimated payroll exceeding $50 billion. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.