Paper and cardboard continue to be some of the most highly recycled materials in the United States. In 2022, the paper recycling rate was nearly 68% holding approximately stable to the 2021 rate, according to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).
Cardboard boxes, also known as old corrugated containers (OCC), are the most-recycled packaging material in the U.S.
In 2022, the recycling rate for cardboard boxes was more than 93%, an increase over last year’s rate. More than 2/3 of the paper used in the U.S. is recycled and used to make new sustainable paper products that people use every day.
The paper recycling rate is calculated using:
AF&PA data on the amount of recovered paper used to make new paper and paperboard by U.S. paper mills.
U.S. Census Bureau data on net exports of recovered paper used to make new paper and paperboard in paper mills around the world.
Then that total is compared to the new supply of paper and paperboard in the U.S. over the same time period.
The rate informs how much paper is diverted from landfills. It is an important indicator of how much recovered paper is used to make new products. The 2022 effective recycling rate for total paper declined slightly to 73-78%, while the effective rate for OCC held approximately stable at 80-85%.
Both the traditional and effective rates illustrate that paper recycling remains consistently high.