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You use paper and paperboard products every day, from newspapers to food packaging to office paper. In fact, paper and paperboard products make up the largest portion of the municipal solid waste stream in the United States and as a result, offer the greatest opportunity to recycle. Learn more facts and figures and other details about paper recycling in the answers to frequent questions below. You might also want to learn about the basics of paper recycling .

Paper Recycling Facts and Figures

How much paper and paperboard is recycled every year, how much paper do we use in the united states each year, what can recovered paper be used for, does all that recovered paper stay in the us, where do the papermaking materials come from, other frequent questions about paper recycling, how is paper recycled, which states have the best access to recycling programs, can a piece of paper be recycled indefinitely.

• What products can be made from recycled paper?
• Who invented paper?
• Are staples, sticky notes and other materials okay to recycle?

Facts and Figures

• Paper accounts for about half of all recyclables collected in the US, by weight. About forty-three million tons of paper and paperboard were recovered in 2013—a recycling rate of about 63 percent. ( 1 )
• About 67 percent of newspapers/mechanical papers and 89 percent of corrugated cardboard were recovered in 2013. Starting in 2013, newsprint and groundwood inserts expanded to include directories and other mechanical papers. ( 1 )
• In 2013, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 275 pounds for each person living in the US. ( 1 )
• About 69 million tons of paper and paperboard. ( 1 )
• Each year, more than 2 billion books, 350 million magazines, and 24 billion newspapers are published. ( 3 )

About 37 percent of the fiber used to make new paper products in the US came from recycled sources in 2011. ( 2 )

In 2011, 42 percent of recovered paper was exported to overseas markets. About 53 percent stayed in the US to be recycled into paper and paperboard products. The remaining 5% was used to make other non-paper products. ( 2 )

In the United States, they come from three primary sources:

• Recycled paper: 33 percent
• Whole trees and other plants: 33 percent
• Wood chips and scraps from sawmills: 33 percent

Other Frequent Questions

The prevalence of available recycling program varies across the country.

No, every time paper is recycled, the fibers get shorter. After being recycled five to seven times, the fibers become too short to bond into new paper. New fibers are added to replace the unusable fiber that wash out of the pulp during the recycling process. A single sheet of paper may contain new fibers as well as fibers that have already been recycled several times. ( 3 )

What products can be made from recycled paper ?

Besides easily recognizable paper products (e.g, writing paper or paper towels), more than 5,000 products can be made from recycled paper, including:

• Masking tape
• Paper money
• Hospital gowns
• Coffee filters
• Lamp shades
• Car insulation
• Animal bedding
• Planting pots for seedlings
• Egg cartons

Who invented paper and when?

Are staples, sticky notes, and paper clips okay to recycle okay to recycle.

Paper mills that process recovered paper are set up to remove common contaminants such as staples and paper clips from the pulped paper. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove such items before recycling the paper, although paper clips and binder clips can be removed and reused.

If your recycling program accepts mixed paper, sticky notes are usually recyclable — but not always. Any mill that is able to process mixed paper can remove the adhesives found on sticky notes.

• (1) Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures 2013

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Everything You Need to Know About Paper Recycling

By Kathryn Sukalich

In 2011, 66.8 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recycled. Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and if you measure by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling than plastic, aluminum and glass combined. Paper is a material that we’re used to recycling, since 87 percent of us have access to curbside or drop-off recycling for paper.

Additionally, 76 percent of paper mills used some recovered paper in 2011, so the paper you throw into the bin is finding its way into plenty of new products. The process of recycling old paper into new paper might sound like it would be complex, but in reality, it’s pretty straightforward. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even try to recreate this process yourself using everything from old wrapping paper to junk mail.

On an industrial scale, though, paper recycling allows us to save both energy and resources. By recycling one ton of paper we save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and 463 gallons of oil, according to the EPA . Keep reading to find out how the process works and how you can make sure you recycle paper correctly.

How is Paper Recycled?

• After you put paper in your recycling bin, it’s taken to a recycling center where contaminants such as plastic, glass or trash are removed.
• Next, the paper is sorted into different grades.
• Once paper is sorted, it will be stored in bales until a mill needs it, and then it will be transferred to the mill for processing.
• Once at the mill large machines (pulpers) shred the paper into small pieces. This mixture of paper, water, and chemicals is heated and the pieces of paper break down into fibers.
• The mixture is pressed through a screen to remove adhesives and other remaining contaminants.
• Next, the paper will be spun in a cone-shaped cylinder to clean it, and sometimes ink will also be removed . At this point, the pulp is sent through a machine that sprays it onto a conveyor belt. Water will drip through the belt’s screen, and the paper fibers will start bonding together.
• Heated metal rollers will dry the paper, and the paper will be put onto large rolls, which can be made into new paper products.

Grades of Paper

Newspaper is a lower grade paper because it has already been recycled numerous times, while printer paper is higher grade paper. The grade of paper is determined by fiber length, which shortens after each trip through the recycling process.

After being recycled five to seven times, the fibers become too short to make new paper and will need to be mixed with virgin fibers, according to the EPA . Ever heard that paper has “seven generations”? That phrase refers to how many times paper can be recycled before its fibers become too short.

There are five basic paper grade categories, according to the EPA . While these terms may be most useful to paper mills looking to process certain kinds of paper, you may hear these terms once in a while, and it’s possible you’ll need to be able to distinguish between them.

• Old Corrugated Containers – You might know this as “corrugated cardboard.” It’s most often found in boxes and product packaging.
• Mixed Paper – This is a broad category of paper that includes things like mail, catalogs, phone books and magazines.
• Old Newspapers – This one is pretty self-explanatory. Mills use newspapers, a lower grade paper, to make more newsprint, tissue and other products.
• High Grade Deinked Paper – This quality paper consists of things like envelopes, copy paper and letterhead that has gone through the printing process and had the ink removed.
• Pulp Substitutes – This paper is usually discarded scraps from mills, and you probably won’t have to worry about running into it, though it may find its way into products you buy.

How to Recycle Paper Properly

Now that you understand how paper gets made into new paper, you need to know how you as a consumer can recycle properly. For example, you might occasionally find yourself with a type of paper you’re unsure what to do with. In those situations, understanding some basic paper terms – for different kinds of paper and different kinds of recycling – can help you put the right materials in the right bin.

Collection:  As a consumer, you will need to know whether paper can go in your curbside recycling bin, and if so, whether it needs to be separated.

• Single-Stream – This type of collection allows you to put all recyclables like glass, plastic and paper in one container. Single-stream collection makes the process easy for those who wish to recycle and it requires fewer trucks for collection.
• Sorted-Stream – This type of collection requires residents to separate certain kinds of recyclables. You may be asked to put all mixed paper in one container or to separate paper waste more specifically. If you have sorted-stream recycling, check local regulations before throwing paper in the recycling bin.

Once you know what kind of paper recycling is available to you and which types of paper are recyclable, you might still have some questions about paper recycling. Here are a few common items that cause confusion:

Shredded Paper:  Ever wondered whether shredded paper can be recycled? The answer is yes , though you may encounter some local restrictions regarding the size of the shredded pieces and the way the paper is contained . Check with your local recycling program for specific information.

Staples & Paper Clips:  Believe it or not, equipment at paper mills that recycle recovered paper is designed to remove things like staples and paper clips, so you don’t need to remove them before recycling. It is probably in your best interest to remove paper clips, though, so they can be reused.

Sticky Notes:  If your local recycling program accepts mixed paper, it will most likely accept sticky notes . Paper mills that process mixed paper are able to remove adhesives. To be on the safe side, check with your local program to make sure sticky notes aren’t a problem.

The amount of paper recovered for recycling in 2011 averaged 338 pounds for each man, woman and child in the U.S., according to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). By understanding how the process works and what you can do to ensure recyclable paper doesn’t end up in a landfill, you can help keep this number high.

• For more information about recycling your own paper at home, check out: Simple Steps to Recycle Your Own Paper .
• To learn about how to start paper recycling programs at work, school or in your community, read: 3 Places You Should Always Recycle Paper .

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 19, 2013. It was updated on July 1, 2016 with new information and updated links.

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Paper Recycling

Sorting waste paper at home for recycling.

6 April 2020 --> Shares

By Recycling.com / 6 April 2020 Shares

How to Recycle Paper?

Paper recycling is the circular process of turning old waste paper into new paper, this recycling and producing process is called papermaking. Paper is a 100% natural and recyclable resource made of wood fibers. Therefore paper waste is the most important ingredient for the process of creating new paper and cardboard products.

Did you know that paper can be recycled up to seven times, depending on the quality? That is because a paper fiber wears down every time it gets recycled.

Three main streams of paper waste

• Household waste paper – A mix of paper waste containing old newspapers, printer paper, magazines, junk mail, and paperboard packaging.
• Cardboard waste – Brown corrugated cardboard waste from parcel boxes or from cardboard packaging. Read more about cardboard recycling .
• Confidential waste paper – Printed documents with sensitive information on it, such as personal data. Most of these documents end up in a paper shredder. This shredded waste paper is an important resource for the tissue industry. Read more about paper shredding .

Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in the world. #KeepRecyclingPaper

Paper recycling process

How does the process of paper recycling work and how do paper mills produce new paper from old paper? Let’s find out.

Step 1: Separating

It all starts at your home by sorting paper waste, such as old newspapers and paperboard boxes, from other recyclables and garbage. We recommend using a designated paper recycling bin for the collection of your paper waste.

Keep paper that you recycle as clean as possible by collecting it in separate bins from all the other recyclable materials. This is the best way to ensure that the waste paper can be recycled properly.

Step 2 : Collecting

The local waste hauler collects the old paper from centralized drop-off containers in your area or the curbside collection or picks up containers that get emptied on scheduled moments. The material is then getting transferred to a recycling center or a materials recovery facility (MRF).

Step 3 : Sorting

At the recycling facility, the actual recycling process starts by sorting and separating the mix of paper waste into multiple grades that contain different types of paper, such as newspapers, cardboard boxes, printer paper, magazines, and mail. The facility roughly sorts the paper waste into two streams: pure paper waste and pure cardboard waste .

During this process, contaminations are also getting removed from the paper, such as plastic, wood, or other foreign materials. The sortation process is partially done by machine but also by hand.

Step 4 : Baling

The sorted paper waste gets baled into paper bales for further transport. Not every recycling center bales the waste paper. Some opt to deposit the material in large containers to be transported to the paper mill.

Step 5 : Pulping

At the paper mill, the actual papermaking process starts. Here the paper is put into a large machine mixed with water and chemicals that converts the paper into paper pulp.

The mixtures help to break the paper down. This process is called pulping and is meant to mix all the paper and clean the material from impurities.

Ink (de-inking), metals, glass, plastic, adhesives, and other contaminants are removed from the paper pulp during the process. This results in a homogeneous mix that looks like a grey mixture that forms the new paper’s base.

In the process of pulping also virgin wood fibers are added to the mix to ensure the material’s strength. This means that waste paper is a secondary resource for papermaking.

Step 6 : Drying

Now the clean pulp is ready to dry. The process works by pressing the material between large rollers to drain and extract the pulp’s water. The drained pulp is now spread out and passed through heated metal rollers that dry the paper entirely.

Step 7 : Rolling

Dryers now treat the dried and flattened fresh paper layers to smooth out the paper from any wrinkles. Finally, the paper is being rolled onto massive metal rollers, where the material is then getting rated by quality controllers that check the strength and the grade of the paper.

Step 8 : Selling

The paper rolls can now be sold and shipped to other manufactures that use the freshly recycled paper for new products, like newspapers, magazines, or postcards.

Recycled paper reduces the paper industry’s impact on the planet. It saves 100% of the trees, over 30% of the energy, over 50% of the water.

Questions about paper recycling (FAQ)

What are the different types of waste paper.

What are the common types and grades of waste paper that are sorted at the paper recycling facility?

• OCC 11 – Old corrugated containers made of cardboard.
• ONP – Old newspapers, newsprint, tissue, and lower grade paper.
• OINP – Over issued newspaper.
• NCC – New corrugated containers.
• DLK – Double liner kraft paper.
• High-grade deinked paper – Printer paper or (unsorted or sorted) office paper.
• Mixed Paper Waste (soft or hard) – Residential mixed paper such as mail, cartons, magazines, and shredded paper.
• Pulp substitutes – Residues from the paper pulping process.
• Graphic paper – Paper residues from the graphic paper industry, such as magazine shavings, cuttings, and trimmings.

What paper can you recycle?

The types of paper that can be recycled depending on local legislation and the recycling company’s acceptance conditions. Most important is that the material is clean and is free of contaminations, such as grease, paint, or glue. Below is an overview of common paper products that can be recycled.

• Phone books
• Paperboard boxes
• White office paper*

*Make sure to remove confidential information, such as your address, before disposing of it for recycling.

When disposing cardboard waste, please make sure you flatten the cardboard box so it takes up less space in the recycling container.

What paper is not recyclable?

Not every type of paper waste can be recycled at the recycling facility. Below is an overview of types of paper that are not recyclable.

• Coated and treated paper
• Paper containing food waste, such as used pizza boxes, paper plates, and paper cups
• Towels, napkins, and tissue paper
• Laminated paper, wax paper, and foil-coated paper
• Paper that is soiled or contaminated with oil, grease, or chemicals
• Used wallpaper containing glue residues.
• Shredded paper waste*

*Shredded paper is often used as a resource material for the tissue industry, rather than it is used for papermaking.

Is paper biodegradable?

Paper that is made of 100% natural plant materials is biodegradable. Paper that is laminated is not 100% biodegradable.

Is new paper only made of old paper?

No, paper mills use both recycled paper and virgin fibers for papermaking. This results in a strong paper that can be used for new paper products.

Why is paper recycling important?

Paper recycling yields many eco-friendly and environmental benefits:

• Paper recycling saves space in landfills.
• Reduces water and energy consumption. Compared to virgin paper, this results in 28% to 70% less energy consumption.
• It preserves resources, and it saves forests by substituting used paper for trees.
• The recycled paper generates less pollution during manufacturing than pure virgin paper.
• Reduces the carbon footprint and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

To extend the use of recovered paper as a raw material in papermaking, it is imperative that paper is source segregated and collected from households. This means that every citizen plays a crucial part in the paper recycling and papermaking process’s success and to achieve high recovery percentages of paper.

Around 40% of all fibers used in our tissue products globally come from recycled paper. Essity

Is recycled paper eco friendly?

It conserves wood, reducing water pollution. Recycled paper also helps saving trees because it lowers the demand for wood. This reduces deforestation, and it reduces the carbon footprint.

The whole process of paper recycling uses less total energy in comparison with papermaking from virgin wood fibers.

Is recycled paper a lower quality paper?

No, recycled paper is also used for making high-quality paper that you can use for your printer. But recycled paper can also be made into a lower-grade type of paper used for newspapers or mail.

Is paper recycling secure?

The process of paper recycling is secure enough for non-confidential documents. But it isn’t advised to discard sensitive documents in your paper recycling bin. We recommend using a secure paper shredder to destroy sensitive data, such as personal information or business-related information, to secure disposing of confidential documents.

Some paper shredders, such as cross-cut shredders and micro-cut shredders , destroy the paper in microscopic particles. Shredding thus helps to eliminate the confidential information, but it also shortens the paper fibers.

The downside of this is that the shredded paper can’t be recycled at the recycling facility. Therefore only shred documents that need to be shredded.

Please carefully read the acceptance policies for recyclables in your area whether or not you can discard shredded paper in the paper recycling bin.

What to do with shredded paper?

Tissue making.

Shredded paper forms an important resource for the tissue industry. But how does the tissue industry get their hand on the shredded paper?

Paper shredding companies facilitate the service of secure paper shredding for businesses and consumers. These shredding companies shred confidential documents in bulk in large industrial shredder machines. You can drop off your documents, or the documents can be collected at your office

The shredded material is getting compressed into bales, then sold and transported to the tissue making companies. The tissue industry produces toilet paper, paper towels, and other paper hygiene products.

Paper and composting

When shredded paper can’t be recycled, you can always compost it in a composting bin . Shredded paper is the perfect bedding for vermicomposting, for instance.

Facts about paper recycling

• In Europe, the recycling percentage of waste paper and cardboard was 72% in 2016 – Source .
• At a European level, about 50% of recovered paper is collected from industry and trade, 40% from households, and 10% from offices (CEPI, 2006)
• In the United States, the recycling percentage of waste paper and cardboard was 66% in 2017 – Source .
• In the 90s approximately 35% of the paper and cardboard waste was recycled in the USA – Source .
• Recycling of 1,000 kilograms of paper waste, reduces the need for 3.3 trees for making new paper – Source .
• With 1,000 kilograms of recycled paper, you reduce the need for 4,000 kilowatts of energy – Source .
• Recycling paper costs 60% less energy in comparison to producing paper from virgin material – Source .
• Paper fiber can be recycled and reused up to 7 times – Source .
• Did you know that recovered paper can be also used for insulation in construction? These are more environmentally friendly than conventional fiberglass insulation – Source .

Recycling meant victory

During the First and Second World War, there was a major shortage of paper pulp . People were asked to save used paper and rags to make new paper and to help the war effort.

Paper recycling signs and logos

To help sort and collect waste papers, we recommend using clear labels on the recycling bins to prevent contamination. You can find and order official paper recycling labels at the website of Recycle Across America .

Paper Recycling Industry Associations

• American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)
• Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI)
• Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
• European Recovered Paper Association (ERPA)
• European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC)
• Conference of European Paper Industries (CEPI)
• Afandpa – Does Paper Actually Get Recycled? The Industry Answers
• Wikipedia – Paper recycling
• USI.edu – Paper recycling facts
• Paperrecycles.org – FAQ about paper recycling
• Paperrecycles.org – Turning old paper into new paper
• Earth911.com – How to recycle paper
• Earth911.com – Paper recycling details
• Sciencedirect.com – Recycled paper
• Epa.gov – Paper recycling
• Thebalancemb.com – Paper recycling facts and figures

Step Up: Recycle , Reuse & Reduce

The three arrows of the recycling symbol represent the three main stages of the recycling process: recycling, reusing and reducing . Together the arrows form a closed loop. Step up and implement eco-friendly replacements in your daily life.

Join the movement! Step Up the waste hierarchy together to a goal of Zero Waste .

Recycling.com : “If you want to live in balance with nature, recycling is a must.”

Recycling.com is a reader-supported website inspiring individuals to Step Up and colleagues to Team Up & Go Green for a sustainable lifestyle. When you buy through affiliate links, we may earn a commission, learn more .

Resilient U.S. Paper Industry Maintains High Recycling Rate in 2020

65.7 percent of paper consumed in the united states was recycled.

CONTACT: Tim Ebner

(202) 463-2587,  [email protected]

WASHINGTON — The American Forest & Paper Association ( AF&PA ) today announced that 65.7 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recycled in 2020, maintaining a recycling rate that has been consistently high for over a decade. Since 2009, paper recycling has met or exceeded 63 percent—nearly double the rate the U.S. paper industry achieved in 1990.

Meanwhile, U.S. mill consumption of old corrugated containers (OCC) reached a record level in 2020 of 22.8 million tons. The recycling rate for OCC was 88.8 percent, and the three-year average was 92.4 percent.

“In an unprecedented and dynamic year defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, almost two-thirds of paper was recycled and transformed into new sustainable paper products,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “The resilience and commitment of our industry is notable, as is engagement of consumers in the paper recycling process. The result is a consistent and high rate for paper recycling.” 

Paper recycling helps extend the life of fiber, creating new sustainable paper-based packaging products and advancing the circular economy.

“Paper recycling continues to be a success, and the U.S. paper industry plays an essential role,” Brock said. “Our industry leadership remains strong with $4.1 billion in manufacturing infrastructure investments, announced, planned or made, from 2019-2023, to continue the best use of recycled fiber in our products.”

For more information about U.S. paper recycling statistics, paper recycling and AF&PA’s commitment to sustainability, please visit:  afandpa.org

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. The forest products industry is circular by nature. AF&PA member companies make essential products from renewable and recyclable resources, generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future . The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures about $350 billion in products annually and employs about 925,000 people. The industry meets a payroll of about $65 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 43 states. Visit AF&PA online at afandpa.org  or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper . 

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