Office Supplies Blog | Paper Recycling Reaches 53.4% Recovery Rate

Paper Recycling Reaches 53.4% Recovery Rate

Written by bherman

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced recently that a record 53.4% of the paper used in the USA was recovered for recycling in 2006. The 53.5 million tons is an increase of more than 83% since 1990 and is near the AF&PA's 2012 goal of 55% recovery. The AF&PA is part of the Paper Industry Association Council and maintains tools to encourage recycling at their web site: www.paperrecycles.org. We encourage you to consider buying recycled paper products for your office. You can find recycled copy paper, and many more recycled office papers in BuyOnlineNow's GoGreen green office products department.

Paper Industry Announces All-Time High of
53.4 Percent Paper Recovery

Second year in a row that paper recovery has increased; Industry closes in on 55 percent paper recovery goal

WASHINGTON, DC, March 27, 2007 - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced that a record 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. (53.5 million tons) was recovered for recycling in 2006. This is the second year in a row that the paper recovery rate has increased. The 53.5 million tons represents an increase in recovery of 83.7 percent since 1990, when the paper industry undertook its first serious commitment to advance recycling in the United States. Currently, Americans recover nearly 360 pounds of paper for every person in the United States, up from 233 pounds per person in 1990. This impressive accomplishment was made possible by the efforts of AF&PA member companies and the millions of Americans who recycle at home, work and at school every day, including the fact that 86 percent of the U.S. population, or about 258 million people, have access to curbside or drop-off recycling programs according to a 2005 AF&PA Community Survey.In order to keep up with global demand for recovered fiber, the industry has set a goal of 55 percent recovery by 2012. "These results show that we are closing in on our 55 percent paper recovery goal at a much faster rate than we anticipated," said AF&PA president & CEO Juanita D. Duggan. "We're encouraged by both the quantity and quality of paper being recovered, but we still have an opportunity to bump this number even higher by increasing recovery of high quality paper found in offices and schools." AF&PA continues to raise awareness of the need for increased recovery through partnership programs, youth outreach, and a variety of resources and materials available on www.paperrecycles.org.In addition to a searchable database of historical information regarding recovery by paper grade, the Web site also contains recycling guides for schools, communities and businesses; background and facts and figures on paper and paper recycling; and video and interactive features. About AF&PA 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 a million people, and ranks among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 42 states with an estimated payroll exceeding $50 billion.

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