U.S. recycled paper rates increased in 2024

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has shared its annual paper recycling rates, with 60 to 64 percent of paper and 69 to 74 percent of cardboard available for recovery being recycled in the U.S. in 2024.

The current state of paper recycling 

Paper continues to be one of the highest recycled materials in the U.S. and Canada, supported by successful recycling systems. In 2024 alone, 46 million tons of paper were recycled in the U.S., which equates to 125,000 tons of recycled paper being turned into new, essential products like cardboard boxes, paper packaging, and toilet paper every day.  

2024 paper recycling rates

• U.S. mills used 1.29 million more tons of recycled paper to make new products in 2024; that's 32.7 million tons compared to 31.3 million tons in 2023.  
• Recycled paper share of all fibre used at U.S. mills has steadily increased in the last 20 years, from 36.6 percent in 2005 to 37.7 percent in 2015 to 44.4 percent in 2024.
• In 2024, there was a 13.5 percent increase in net containers entering the U.S. More goods with paper-based packaging were imported in 2024 than in 2023, which increased the amount of paper available for recycling.
• While U.S. mills consumed more recycled paper in 2024 compared to 2023, the U.S. exported less recycled paper in 2024, primarily due to decreased demand from Asia.

"Paper recycling works, and our success is due in large part to the paper industry's ownership stake in America's recycling systems and the millions of people who recycle every day," said AF&PA president and CEO Heidi Brock. "The paper industry has prioritized recycling for over 30 years, and we are committed to advancing this progress. AF&PA members are not just participants in the recycling system; we are helping build and improve it through voluntary industry investments that use more recycled paper, create jobs, and innovate in our U.S. manufacturing processes."