The Facts About Paper and Paper Recycling
- In 2008, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 340 pounds for every person in the U.S.
- In 2009, a record-high 63.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. It was the first time the number was over 60 percent.
- Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
- By 2012, the paper industry’s goal is to recover 60 percent of all the paper Americans consume for recycling, which is approximately 60 million tons of paper.
- One million tons of recovered paper is enough to fill more than 14,000 railroad cars.
- More than 37 percent of the fiber used to make new paper products in the United States comes from recycled sources.
- 87 percent (approximately 268 million) of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs.
Bibliography: The Facts About Paper and Paper Recycling
- "Paper & Paperboard Recovery" Paperrecycles.org http://www.paperrecycles.org/stat_pages/recovery_rate.html.
- "Paper Recycles Frequent Questions" U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/paper/faqs.htm.
