Product Stewardship

In 2022, we recovered more than 50 million tons of paper for recycling and the paper recycling rate was nearly 68%.  

Nearly 68% of paper was recycled in 2022. The recycling rate has met or exceeded 63% every year since 2009.

93.6% of all cardboard boxes were recycled in 2022. The recycling rate for cardboard has exceeded 82% since 2009. 

Paper recycling is a success. In 2022, nearly 68% of paper was recycled and more than 93% of cardboard boxes were recycled.

More than two-thirds of the paper used in the U.S. is recycled and used to make new sustainable paper products people use every day. That’s more than 50 million tons of paper. To unpack the paper and cardboard recycling rates further, we turned to AF&PA’s Executive Director of Recovered Fiber…

Are address window envelopes recyclable? Yes! You don’t even have to remove the plastic window. During the repulping process, it gets filtered out.

AF&PA opposes one-size-fits-all policies to address recycling in Massachusetts. Current proposals do not reflect the complexities of the state’s recycling system. We encourage Massachusetts lawmakers to take a more solution-oriented approach and avoid measures that penalize the forest products…

The American Forest & Paper Association is encouraged to see policymakers focus on improving recycling infrastructure. However, we are opposed to rushed, one-size-fits-all policies like S4246A / A5322A that do not reflect the complexities of the state’s recycling system and could impact the…

Extended Producer Responsibility is a waste management strategy that is getting a lot of attention in the U.S., mostly at the state level. The paper industry is already a responsible producer and has a track record of success. We recycle nearly 75% more paper today than we did in 1990. Dive in…

Cardboard is a highly recyclable material that’s widely accepted for recycling in recycling programs across the U.S. By choosing to recycle cardboard, we can all play a role in creating a more sustainable future. 

Printing papers are 100% recyclable and the process is simple. Extended Producer Responsibility programs won’t improve that infrastructure. Don't mess with success. Paper recycling is part of a system that already works.

New Jersey is the only state in the nation that has banned paper bags. Lawmakers in Trenton can fix this broken law with an amendment to ensure access to paper bags, which are 100% recyclable, as well as reusable and compostable.