Product Stewardship

Paper recycling is a success. In 2022, nearly 68% of paper was recycled and more than 93% of cardboard boxes were recycled.

More than two-thirds of the paper used in the U.S. is recycled and used to make new sustainable paper products people use every day. That’s more than 50 million tons of paper. To unpack the paper and cardboard recycling rates further, we turned to AF&PA’s Executive Director of Recovered Fiber…

Are address window envelopes recyclable? Yes! You don’t even have to remove the plastic window. During the repulping process, it gets filtered out.

AF&PA opposes one-size-fits-all policies to address recycling in Massachusetts. Current proposals do not reflect the complexities of the state’s recycling system. We encourage Massachusetts lawmakers to take a more solution-oriented approach and avoid measures that penalize the forest products…

The American Forest & Paper Association is encouraged to see policymakers focus on improving recycling infrastructure. However, we are opposed to rushed, one-size-fits-all policies like S4246A / A5322A that do not reflect the complexities of the state’s recycling system and could impact the…

Extended Producer Responsibility is a waste management strategy that is getting a lot of attention in the U.S., mostly at the state level. The paper industry is already a responsible producer and has a track record of success. We recycle nearly 75% more paper today than we did in 1990. Dive in…

Cardboard is a highly recyclable material that’s widely accepted for recycling in recycling programs across the U.S. By choosing to recycle cardboard, we can all play a role in creating a more sustainable future. 

Printing papers are 100% recyclable and the process is simple. Extended Producer Responsibility programs won’t improve that infrastructure. Don't mess with success. Paper recycling is part of a system that already works.

New Jersey is the only state in the nation that has banned paper bags. Lawmakers in Trenton can fix this broken law with an amendment to ensure access to paper bags, which are 100% recyclable, as well as reusable and compostable.

What happens when you recycle a milk carton? Cartons are transported to paper mills and recycling plants where they become new products like boxes, toilet paper and even ceiling tiles.

AF&PA is disappointed by the enactment of Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Recycling. Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB22-1355 into law, creating an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program that includes paper and paper-based packaging products.

Most recent data from the EPA  indicates that paper and paperboard packaging accounts for 3/4 of all packaging materials recovered for recycling in the U.S.