How Much Paper Was Recycled in 2024?
Breaking Down the Paper and Cardboard Recycling Rates
Paper recycling is one of the most successful recycling systems in America.
In 2024 alone, we recycled around 46 million tons of paper in the U.S. That’s 125,000 tons every day being turned into things like cardboard boxes, paper packaging and toilet paper.
That translates to a paper recycling rate of 60%-64% and a cardboard recycling rate of 69%-74%.
Today, the paper industry recycles nearly 60% more paper than it did 35 years ago.
Key Takeaways
In 2024, around 46 million tons of paper was recycled. The paper recycling rate was 60%-64% and the cardboard recycling rate was 69%-74%.
U.S. Paper Mills Used Even More Recycled Paper in 2024
Paper mills across America rely on recycled paper and packaging to make new products. In fact, around 80% of paper mills nationwide use recycled paper in their manufacturing process.
In 2024, the amount of recycled paper U.S. paper mills used increased. They used 1.3 million more tons of recycled paper than they did in 2023. For cardboard, mills used 1.2 million more tons than in 2023.
Global Trade & Paper Recycling
Explore the global trade dynamics of paper recycling.
Does Recycled Paper Make New Products?
Today, more than 2/3 of all paper recycled in the U.S. is turned into new products Americans rely on at mills nationwide.
Nearly half of recycled paper, about 20.8 million tons, went into making containerboard in 2024. That’s the material used to make cardboard boxes.
About 27% of recycled paper was exported. Paper mills around the world rely on our recycled paper exports to manufacture new products.
The rest was used in the U.S. to make packaging for cereal or medicine, tissue products like toilet paper and paper towels, as well as printing papers.
See the Paper Recycling Process
Dive Into the Paper Recycling ProcessPaper recycling collection can begin at offices, schools, retailers or households. Explore what happens after paper and packaging are picked up by a recycling truck.