What Are the U.S. Paper and Cardboard Recycling Rates?
Paper recycling rates have continuously grown over recent decades and remain consistently high. Let's break down the rates.
2025 Paper Recycling Rate
In 2025, the paper recycling rate was 61% - 65%.
We recycled around 45 million tons of paper. That’s 123,000 tons per day.
2025 Cardboard Recycling Rate
The 2025 cardboard recycling rate was 70% - 75%.
We recycled more than 33 million tons of cardboard. That’s 90,000 tons per day.
Paper and Cardboard Recycling Collection Streams
Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in America.
Paper and paper packaging are collected for recycling from multiple streams, including:
- Residential: This includes curbside pick-up from single-family homes and townhouses, communal recycling collection at condo and apartment buildings, and drop-off recycling programs.
- Industrial: This includes collection from factories, gas and electrical plants, refineries and more.
- Commercial: This includes collection from retail like your grocery store and big box stores. It also includes businesses and office buildings.
- Institutional: This includes collection from places like hospitals, schools, colleges and universities.
Why is AF&PA's Rate a Range?
The new rate is calculated as the amount of paper recycled compared to the amount of paper available for recovery. The previous rate measured the amount of paper recycled compared to the amount of paper used.
The updated methodology factors in a few changes that are best represented in a range.
Where Recycled Paper Goes
At paper mills across the country, recycled paper is used to make the essential products millions of people rely on every day!
Today, more than 2/3 of all paper recycled in the U.S. is turned into new products Americans rely on at mills nationwide.
In 2025, nearly half of recycled paper went into making containerboard — the material used to make cardboard boxes.
Recycled paper also made boxes for food and medicine, tissue products like toilet paper and paper towels, and printing papers.
Beyond the U.S., recycled paper was exported to paper mills around the world and used to make new products.
Innovative Recycling Solutions
Research, outreach and new technologies are helping ensure the products the industry makes can be recycled.
Explore AF&PA member investments, innovative packaging, and projects to improve recycling technology.
Decades of Commitment
Investing in and improving paper recycling has been an industry priority for decades.
Discover the paper industry's efforts and commitment to improve paper recycling.