Paper Recovered for Recycling Grows 2.4 Percent in 2011

Paper recovered for recycling rose 2.4 percent in 2011 compared with the previous year, according to audited data from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).

Paper recovered for recycling in the United States totaled 52.8 million short tons, the Washington-based association said in a news release. In 2010 paper recovered for recycling totaled 51.4 million tons.

The recovery rate for 2011 climbed to 66.8 percent, compared with 63.5 percent in 2010, according to the association’s audit of recovered paper data.

The AF&PA said total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in 2011 dropped 3 percent to 30.5 million short tons from the 31.6 million a year.

Of that total, old corrugated cardboard comprised 63.4 percent of the total; mixed papers, 12.9 percent; newspapers, 11.3 percent; high-grade deinking, 8.4 percent; and pulp substitutes, 3.9 percent.

U.S. exports of recovered paper totaled 23.2 million short tons.

The association also released its 2012 Annual Statistical Summary of Recovered Paper Utilization, with data from 2002 to 2011. The report presents historical recovered paper consumption figures by U.S. region and end-use, as well as utilization by paper and paperboard grades.