Paper Recycling & Landfill
The amount of paper going to landfills is estimated to have declined significantly over the past ten years, from about 33 million tons in 2008 to approximately 21.5 million tons in 2019. The decline was partly attributable to a rise in the paper recycling rate. In addition to recycling, some paper is diverted from landfills because it is disposed of in other ways such as via incineration with energy recovery or, in the case of bathroom tissue, via the sewer system.
| | Paper Recycled
(million tons) | Paper Landfilled
(million tons) |
| 1993 | 35.5 | 37.8 |
| 1994 | 39.7 | 38.0 |
| 1995 | 42.2 | 36.4 |
| 1996 | 43.1 | 34.6 |
| 1997 | 44.0 | 37.3 |
| 1998 | 45.1 | 38.3 |
| 1999 | 46.8 | 41.7 |
| 2000 | 47.3 | 41.1 |
| 2001 | 47.0 | 37.2 |
| 2002 | 47.6 | 39.1 |
| 2003 | 49.3 | 46.4 |
| 2004 | 50.2 | 35.7 |
| 2005 | 51.3 | 35.4 |
| 2006 | 53.3 | 34.9 |
| 2007 | 54.3 | 36.0 |
| 2008 | 51.8 | 33.0 |
| 2009 | 50.0 | 21.4 |
| 2010 | 51.5 | 24.3 |
| 2011 | 52.8 | 22.7 |
| 2012 | 51.1 | 23.1 |
| 2013 | 50.1 | 23.2 |
| 2014 | 51.2 | 22.6
|
| 2015 | 52.0 | 21.3 |
| 2016 | 52.2 | 21.4
|
2017
| 50.8 | 22.7
|
2018
| 52.7 | 21.7 |
| 2019 | 49.2 | 21.5 |
Source: AF&PA's "Paper Industry Annual Statistical Summary" for Paper Recovered