A record-high 63.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2009. This is great news for the industry and the environment, and exceeds the industry’s 60 percent recovery goal three years ahead of schedule. To balance growing global demand for recovered fiber and decreased paper consumption, increasing recovery nationwide remains a priority.

graph
  Supply1 (000 tons) Recovered (000 tons) Recovery Rate2
199391,53835,460 38.7%
199495,71839,691 41.5%
199595,97142,189 44.0%
199694,52943,076 45.6%
199799,55743,989 44.2%
1998101,18345,076 44.6%
1999105,31646,818 44.5%
2000102,81047,311 46.0%
200197,39546,996 48.3%
200298,94947,645 48.2%
2003 98,018 49,255 50.3%
2004 101,884 50,187 49.3%
200599,613 51,272 51.5%
2006100,665 53,314 53.0%
200797,007 54,325 56.0%
2008 89,838 51,822 57.7%
200978,90250,036 63.4%

did you know...

  • In 2009 a record-high 63.4% of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling.
  • Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
  • 87 percent (268 million) of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs.
  • In 2009 the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 325 pounds for each man, woman, and child in the United States.

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