Paper is recycled more than any other product in the United States – U.S.4

In 2021, 68% of paper and paper-based packaging in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. The recycling rate for cardboard, what the industry calls corrugated, was 91.4%.[1]

According to the most recent government data available, paper and paper packaging is recycled more than any other material in the U.S. solid waste stream, including plastics (8.7%), glass (25%) and metals (34.1%).[2]

In 2021, 41.1% of the paper collected for recycling in the United States was used to produce containerboard (i.e. corrugated boxes), 12.1% to produce boxboard (folding boxes like cereal or medicine boxes, and gypsum wallboard, i.e. drywall/ facings.), 7.1% for tissue and 5.9% for newsprint. Exports accounted for 33.7%, up from 32.2% in 2020.[1]

54% to 56% of U.S. consumers surveyed believe only recycled paper should be used to make new paper products.[4] However, this is not possible because fresh wood fiber from sustainably managed forests is essential to sustain a viable paper industry. Recycled fiber would not exist without harvesting fresh fiber.[5]

94% of Americans have access to community paper recycling programs, and 79% of Americans have access to residential-curbside recycling programs.[6]

The U.S. paper industry continues to demonstrate recycling leadership, voluntarily investing nearly $5 billion in projects from 2019 through 2024 to use approximately 8 million additional tons of recovered fiber.[7]

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