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Product Stewardship

Access to Curbside Recycling

The 2021 AF&PA Access to Recycling Study found 79% of Americans have access to residential-curbside recycling programs- an increase of more than 14 million people since our 2014 study.

Understanding What it Means to be a Responsible Producer

As we look ahead to 2022, there are potentially other states and jurisdictions that will consider EPR approaches that could have negative consequences for the paper and wood products industry.  

What We're Doing

AF&PA commissioned the 2021 Access to Recycling Study. The study is a comprehensive national report that tracks and measures the growth of access to community and paperboard recycling in the U.S. The study shows 94% of Americans have access to community paper recycling programs. And 79% of…

New York Times Misses the Point on Paper Recycling

The New York Times covered Maine’s dramatic new recycling law. But they missed the point on paper recycling. AF&PA responded in a letter to the editor.

AF&PA Responds to Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement in response to the Oregon Legislature passing the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (SB 582).

AF&PA Urges Governor Mills to Veto Maine’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement in opposition to the Maine Legislature’s passage of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging (LD 1541).

New York’s Extended Producer Responsibility Bill Needs a Redo, Leaving Paper Out

The New York Daily News recently ran an editorial on Albany’s proposed extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill. We agree with the editorial, and its headline statement to New York lawmakers: “Recycle This Legislative Language."

AF&PA Announces Support for the RECYCLE Act

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement in support of U.S. Senators Rob Portman’s (R-OH) and Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) and Representatives David Joyce’s (R-OH) and Dean Phillips’(D-MN) introduced legislation, the RECYCLE…

Creating Ease for Consumers One Package Design at a Time

Behind the packaging of one’s favorite product is a designer, creating solutions to meet brand and consumer goals. Dana Exner, Manager, Creative Structural Design at Graphic Packaging International, is one of those people.

What The New York Times Gets Wrong About Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Paper Recycling

A recent opinion column in the New York Times (“Recycling in America Is a Mess. A New Bill Could Clean It Up,” by Michael Kimmelman) touched on paper recycling and something called Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR. The article fell short in its characterization…

AF&PA Opposes New Jersey’s Ban on Paper Bags

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement regarding New Jersey’s Paper Bag Ban (NJ Senate Bill 864 / Assembly Bill 1978).

AF&PA Urges Governor Murphy to Issue a Conditional Veto on New Jersey’s Paper Bag Ban

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement regarding the passage of New Jersey’s Paper Bag Ban (NJ Senate Bill 864 / Assembly Bill 1978).