FAST FACTS: Recovered Paper

34,218 million tons of paper were landfilled in 2002, and 47,635 million tons were recovered.

Paper and paperboard accounted for 75.9 percent of packaging-material recovery in 2002. Glass accounted for 2.9 percent; metal for 2.6 percent; and plastic for 1 percent.

Recovery of old corrugated containers (OCC) rose 4 percent to 23.2 million short tons in 2002. The recovery rate for of OCC approached 74 percent in 2002.

71 percent of old newspapers (ONP) were recovered in 2002. AF&PA has begun adding newspaper inserts in its data because inserts often are commingled with ONP.

33.8 percent of ONP went back into newsprint; 23 percent is exported in 2002.

11,520 million tons of printing and writing paper were recovered in 2002.

33.6 percent of recovered printing-writing paper were exported in 2002; 23.4 percent went into making tissue.

14,782 million tons of old corrugated containers (OCC) were reused as containerboard; 3,945 million tons went into recycled paperboard; and 3,535 million tons were exported in 2002.

9,190 million tons of office paper were generated, and 4,220 million tons were recovered in 2002, which is down from 2000, when 4,545 million tons were recovered.