How Much Paper Was Recycled in 2024?

Paper recycling is one of the most successful recycling systems in America.

In 2024 alone, we recycled around 46 million tons of paper in the U.S. That’s 125,000 tons every day being turned into things like cardboard boxes, paper packaging and toilet paper. 

That translates to a paper recycling rate of 60%-64% and a cardboard recycling rate of 69%-74%.

Today, the paper industry recycles nearly 60% more paper than it did 35 years ago.

Today, more than 2/3 of all paper recycled in the U.S. is turned into new products Americans rely on at mills nationwide.

Nearly half of recycled paper, about 20.8 million tons, went into making containerboard in 2024. That’s the material used to make cardboard boxes.

About 27% of recycled paper was exported. Paper mills around the world rely on our recycled paper exports to manufacture new products.

The rest was used in the U.S. to make packaging for cereal or medicine, tissue products like toilet paper and paper towels, as well as printing papers.

How Much Paper Was Recycled in 2024? | AF&PA

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