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        <title>Paper - Recycling Product News</title>
        <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/topic/Paper-26</link>
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            <title><![CDATA[A review of waning U.S. recovered paper trades and output]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44947/a-review-of-waning-us-recovered-paper-trades-and-output</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44947/a-review-of-waning-us-recovered-paper-trades-and-output</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:54:52 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[U.S. recovered paper exports declined 1.2 percent between January and May 2026, while imports fell 16.7 percent annually, according to Census Bureau data. Does this trend signal strong reshoring or waning trade?
During the first five months, total shipped recovered paper volumes were 5.58 million net tons (5.07 million tonnes) compared to 5.65 million net tons in the year-ago period. Import volumes in this time frame were approximately 276,000 net tons, against 332,000 net tons.
Recycled fibre shipments from and into the U.S. have been flat to low since January this year. However, export volumes have held steady at about five million net tons since 2024, while import volumes have nearly halved from almost 400,000 net tons two years earlier.
Stable export demand
On a positive note, Asian demand for export-grade recovered paper has been unwavering. India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have remained among the top five buyers in 2026 and 2025.
India and Thailand hold a majority share of total exports, with volumes between 850,000 and 900,000 net tons on average since 2024. Malaysia and Vietnam have constantly purchased 600,000-800,000 net tons, although Malaysia has bought approximately 6-12 percent lower volumes over two years.
Outside of Asia, Mexico has been a constant importer, although shipments since 2024 have declined about 14 percent, to approximately 650,000 net tons, from 722,000 net tons.&nbsp;
Lower imports
The U.S. has been a strong exporter of recovered paper; however, it has consistently reduced dependence on imports over time. Recent government legislation on tariff changes and disruptions to deep-sea routes have been the main drivers of falling volumes.
Since 2024, shipments into the country have dropped about 35-40 percent to 276,000 net tons from 444,000 net tons. Canada and Mexico remain the top sellers; however, shipments from Mexico have decreased 50 percent on average to 6,600 net tons, down from 28,000 net tons over two years. Similarly, volumes from Canada are 15-20 percent lower, at 269,000 net tons, from 413,000 net tons.]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Alliance releases first-ever design guidance for poly-coated paper packaging]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44940/alliance-releases-first-ever-design-guidance-for-poly-coated-paper-packaging</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44940/alliance-releases-first-ever-design-guidance-for-poly-coated-paper-packaging</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:54:43 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The Poly Coated Paper Alliance (PCPA) has released its 2026 Design for Mill Recyclability Guidance, the first comprehensive U.S. design guide for poly-coated paper packaging, including milk and juice cartons, coffee cups, ice cream containers, and other food and household packaging. The resource provides brands, converters, and manufacturers with a common framework for designing poly-coated paper packaging in closer alignment with U.S. paper mill end markets.]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[More than 45 million tons of paper were recycled in the U.S. in 2025]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44900/more-than-45-million-tons-of-paper-were-recycled-in-the-us-in-2025</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44900/more-than-45-million-tons-of-paper-were-recycled-in-the-us-in-2025</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The American Forest &amp; Paper Association (AF&amp;PA) has released its annual paper recycling rates. The report highlights that 61 to 65 percent of paper and 70 to 75 percent of cardboard available for recovery are being recycled in the U.S. in 2025.&nbsp;
Paper and cardboard recycling rates in 2025]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Challenges across the recovered paper sector push recyclers to get creative]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44677/challenges-across-the-recovered-paper-sector-push-recyclers-to-get-creative</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44677/challenges-across-the-recovered-paper-sector-push-recyclers-to-get-creative</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:13:20 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The need to overcome constant challenges and the importance of logistics were key points of discussion at the BIR Paper Division side session held at the World Recycling Convention in Gothenburg, Sweden.&nbsp;]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[AF&PA survey shows decrease in recovered paper consumption]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44660/afandpa-survey-shows-decrease-in-recovered-paper-consumption</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44660/afandpa-survey-shows-decrease-in-recovered-paper-consumption</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:01:32 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The American Forest &amp; Paper Association (AF&amp;PA) released its 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey. The report provides detailed data on U.S. paper industry capacity and production compiled by the AF&amp;PA statistics team.]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Q&A: Dan Gregory on baler performance, investment, and innovation]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44618/qanda-dan-gregory-on-baler-performance-investment-and-innovation</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44618/qanda-dan-gregory-on-baler-performance-investment-and-innovation</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 16:20:01 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Whether a facility is processing post-consumer plastics, corrugated cardboard, or mixed paper, the baler is the machine everything else feeds into, and the one that brings production to a halt when it goes down.
As recyclable material volumes grow and markets demand tighter, cleaner bales, operators are under increasing pressure to squeeze more efficiency out of their equipment without always having the budget to replace it.
I caught up with Dan Gregory, president of Unlimited Recycling Resources, to discuss the factors driving today's baler investment decisions, how to use performance indicators to catch problems early, and where facilities can find meaningful efficiency gains in their existing equipment.
Slone Fox:&nbsp;What's driving your customers' equipment investment decisions right now, and what matters most to them beyond the initial purchase price?]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[The current state of EPR and carton recycling in Canada]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44545/the-current-state-of-epr-and-carton-recycling-in-canada</link>
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            <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:29:03 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Across Canada, recycling systems for packaging and paper products &mdash; including food and beverage cartons &mdash; continued to evolve in the past twelve months, with provinces at various stages of implementing or refining extended producer responsibility (EPR) curbside collection and deposit return programs. From Ontario's completion of its blue box transition to launches in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and the Yukon, it was another year of significant milestones. Here's the Carton Council of Canada's annual overview of where things stand, province by province.
Ontario]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[An analysis of Quebec’s recycling system after shifting to full EPR]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44528/an-analysis-of-quebecs-recycling-system-after-shifting-to-full-epr</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44528/an-analysis-of-quebecs-recycling-system-after-shifting-to-full-epr</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:57:06 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Eco Entreprises Quebec (EEQ) recently released its 2025 Review on the Modernized Curbside Recycling System, representing the first full year operating under a full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model &mdash; producers are responsible for both funding and operating the packaging recycling system.]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Headwinds facing the packaging industry and best practices for overcoming them]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44481/headwinds-facing-the-packaging-industry-and-best-practices-for-overcoming-them</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44481/headwinds-facing-the-packaging-industry-and-best-practices-for-overcoming-them</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:17:12 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[New analysis released by McKinsey &amp; Company reveals that high demand alone is no longer enough to carry performance for packaging and paper organizations. McKinsey's No ordinary disruption: State of the packaging and paper industry details how a mix of market dynamics has amped up pressure on the packaging and paper industry.&nbsp;]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Why moisture matters in paper bales]]></title>
            <link>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44416/why-moisture-matters-in-paper-bales</link>
            <guid>https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/44416/why-moisture-matters-in-paper-bales</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:23:11 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Paper and cardboard are some of the most easily recycled materials; yet if they get wet, they go straight to the landfill. Why is that?
Moisture is a critical, but sometimes overlooked, factor in paper recycling. Even small amounts of water in bales cause problems like increased handling costs, reduced fibre quality, and mold growth. Paper is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs or releases moisture from the surrounding environment. This makes moisture management a constant concern for recycling facilities, especially considering how many different environments paper passes through during the recycling process.
In many cases, moisture arrives with the paper itself. Trucks and containers that are wet from precipitation or were previously loaded with wet material can transfer moisture to new loads, and paper collected from residential, commercial, or industrial sources may already be damp due to improper storage or exposure during collection. Even indoors, facilities without climate control or adequate airflow can cause paper to take on moisture gradually, creating hidden internal dampness.
As well, recycling facilities frequently bale different paper grades together: corrugated cardboard, newsprint, office paper, and mixed paper all have varying absorption properties, and when wet materials are baled with dry ones, moisture moves between layers, creating internal hotspots that can degrade fibre quality and promote mold growth. Even minor moisture imbalances can weaken fibre strength, affect brightness, and reduce overall yield at the mill.
Operational impacts
Moisture introduces challenges that affect both the facility and the end product. Wet or damp bales weigh more than dry ones, increasing the load on forklifts, conveyors, and trucks. Heavy bales can also lead to higher transportation fees, overloading risks, or penalties from shipping providers.
Additionally, bales with uneven moisture distribution may stick together or feed inconsistently, leading to jams and equipment damage. Misshapen bales are harder to stack or move efficiently, slowing operations and increasing labour demands.
Fibre degradation
Paper gets its strength from tightly bonded fibres. When moisture gets in, those bonds begin to break down, and if that happens too early in the recycling process, the pulp degrades before it ever gets the chance to be turned into something new.
Wet fibres tend to clump together, resulting in uneven, lower-quality pulp. Moisture also speeds up chemical and microbial activity that weakens the fibres further, reducing how much usable pulp recyclers actually get out of each bale.
Paper mills and buyers expect bales to be within specific moisture ranges &mdash; often between 8 and 12 percent &mdash; depending on the grade. Bales exceeding these levels may be rejected, forcing recyclers to reprocess, dry, or discard materials, leading to lost revenue and strained buyer relationships.
Contamination risks
Excess moisture increases the likelihood that contaminants will stick to paper fibres. Adhesives, inks, food residue, and dirt can bond with damp fibres, complicating screening, cleaning, and pulping. This adds labour, energy, and time to produce usable pulp.
Mold is a particular concern when it comes to paper recycling. It not only affects worker safety but can also cause bales to be rejected. Even minor moisture inconsistencies within a bale can reduce pulp yield, impact sheet formation, and compromise the quality of the final product.
Moisture management
Traditionally, testing for moisture is done by oven-drying samples: weighing them, drying them in an oven, and re-weighing to determine moisture loss. This means destroying part of the bale and waiting for results, which can be slow and disruptive.
Technology has made moisture monitoring a lot more manageable &mdash; inline sensors built into conveyors or bale lines can flag problem bales on the spot, giving operators the chance to pull them before they cause issues further down the line.
Handheld moisture meters have also become a practical tool for facilities that need quick, on-the-spot readings without breaking open bales. Operators press the device against the bale and get an immediate moisture reading, making it easy to catch problem bales early and avoid the complaints and costs that come with moisture going unnoticed.
A valuable commodity
Moisture management may be a behind-the-scenes task, but it is a foundational part of any successful paper recycling operation. Facilities that prioritize moisture control will see improvements in safety, efficiency, and profitability, ensuring that paper bales remain a valuable commodity rather than a costly liability.
Concerns like fibre degradation, contamination, and compliance with mill specifications make proactive moisture management essential. By implementing strategies such as proper storage, careful transport, moisture monitoring, and staff training, facilities can minimize moisture-related problems and maintain both operational efficiency and product quality.
Best practices to minimize moisture
Effectively managing moisture requires a combination of operational strategies, facility design considerations, and staff awareness.
1. Proper storage and staging: Bales should be kept off the ground using pallets or raised platforms to prevent absorption from floors. They should be spaced to allow air circulation and stored away from exterior walls, which can create condensation.
2. Collection and transport: Trucks and containers should be dry before loading. Tarps or enclosed containers can protect bales from precipitation. Separating wetter paper grades from drier ones prevents moisture transfer within bales.
3. Moisture monitoring: Regular checks using handheld moisture meters or inline sensors help identify high-moisture bales before they enter processing. Monitoring different points in the stack ensures consistent moisture levels across bales.
4. Controlled drying and conditioning: For facilities that store paper long-term or receive wet bales, conditioning rooms or air circulation systems can maintain proper moisture levels. Dehumidifiers and fans promote airflow, reducing humidity and preventing mold formation.
5. Staff training: Operators should understand how moisture affects handling, equipment, and fibre quality. Training should cover stacking, storage, and handling procedures that minimize exposure to water. Staff should be able to recognize signs of damp bales, such as musty odors or warped edges.
6. Source management: Encourage suppliers and collection partners to store paper properly prior to pickup. Covered storage, dry vehicles, and careful sorting at the source help reduce moisture before bales reach the recycling facility.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2026 issue of Recycling Product News.&nbsp; ]]></description>
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