Newspaper Recycling King of Paper Recycling Rates

According to the latest industry statistics from the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), the 73.4% newspaper recycling rate leads all recycling rates in the paper products category.

Recycling Resources Recycling Articles Recycling Pictures

The 2004 paper recycling statistics also show that the overall recycling rate for the paper and paperboard category stood at 49.5%.

2004 Paper Recycling Rates
Newspapers - 73.4%
Corrugated Containers - 72.9%
Printing-Writing Papers - 42.1%
Office Papers - 49.1%

Source: American Forest and Paper Association Recovered Paper Statistical Highlights: 2005 Edition.

The claim to the top spot has been moving between newspapers and corrugated containers for well over a decade. Two other major paper categories, printing-writing and office papers, are far behind the leaders, trying to reach the 50% recycling rate level.

Statistics from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) show that the current high rate of newspaper recycling is not an anomaly. Except for a brief downturn in the recycling rates in 2002, due largely to a change in how the recycling statistics are recorded, NAA data show a steady increase in the recycling rates since 1994.

Commenting on the recycling rates, the NAA said, "The industry has made great progress in improving costs and lessening environmental impact through the increasing use of recycled fiber. In 1989, the average amount of recycled fiber in newsprint was 10 percent; today, it's more than 32 percent. Newspapers are also recycled to make other products from cereal boxes to insulation materials."

© 2006 Patricia A. Michaels