Recovery & Use of Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)

The recovery rate for OCC/Unbleached Kraft papers dipped from 92.8 percent in 2016 to 88.8 percent in 2017.  The decline was attributable to a 10.1 percent decline in net exports of OCC; domestic consumption increased 3.5 percent in 2017.  

Recovery OCC

At Paper and Board Mills
(000 tons) 		Net Exports
(000 tons) 		Total
(000 tons) 		Containerboard
/Unbleached Kraft Paper Supply
(000 tons) 		Recovery Rate
1993 13,562 2,338 15,900 29,200 54.5%
1994 15,009 3,240 18,249 31,049 58.8%
1995 16,513 3,894 20,407 31,402 65.0%
1996 18,732 2,847 21,579 31,485 68.5%
1997 19,641 2,381 22,022 32,525 67.7%
1998 19,530 2,582 22,112 32,703 67.6%
1999 20,457 2,189 22,646 34,454 65.7%
2000 19,968 2,750 22,718 33,070 68.7%
2001 19,348 2,923 22,271 31,732 70.2%
2002 19,627 3,546 23,173 33,169 69.9%
2003 19,294 4,386 23,680 32,549 72.8%
2004 19,926 4,123 24,049 34,349 70.0%
2005 20,024 4,665 24,689 33,603 73.5%
2006 19,967 5,218 25,185 34,212 73.6%
2007 20,159 5,418 25,577 34,083 75.0%
2008 19,161 6,036 25,197 32,455 77.6%
2009 17,415 6,836 24,251 29,490 82.2%
2010 19,327 7,637 26,964 31,954 84.4%
2011 19,339 9,784 29,123 32,137 90.6%
2012   19,057  10,077  29,134 32,082 90.8% 
2013 19,805 9,177 28,982 32,434 89.4%
2014 20,474 9,170 29,644 33,219 89.2%
2015  21,184 10,141 31,326 33,728 92.9%
2016   21,241   10,315   31,556  34,032  92.7% 
2017
 21,987
 9,276  31,263
35,212  88.8%