Industry Explainer

The Facts About EPR Legislation in New York

SManger — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:55:06 +0000

The Facts About EPR Legislation in New York

SManger Wed, 11/19/2025 - 14:55

New York State has considered extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation for the past few years. But EPR isn’t the answer. It raises costs for families, ignores the strength of their existing recycling system, and overlooks the success of paper recycling.

The American Forest & Paper Association opposes EPR efforts that include paper and paper packaging. EPR should focus on materials with low recycling rates.

EPR Raises Costs for Families

Extended producer responsibility programs could make life more expensive for New Yorkers. A study shows the proposal could cost industry $1.3 billion, which is more than double earlier estimates.

Those costs don’t stay with companies. They show up in higher prices for everyday essentials. For a family of 4, that means an extra $38–$61 every month, up to $732 a year. And the burden falls hardest on lower-income households, who spend more of their income on packaged food compared to higher-income families.

A study by the Business Council of New York State found 56% of New Yorkers believe EPR legislation would increase costs for everyday products. 63% of New Yorkers worry that EPR could raise grocery prices, and 82% fear the policy could limit their product choices.

California hit pause on its own EPR rollout because of these steep costs. New York can build strong recycling policy without putting this kind of strain on families.

New York Already Has a Strong Recycling System

New York doesn’t need EPR to improve recycling because the foundation is already strong. Today, 97% of New Yorkers already have access to recycling programs that collect a wide range of materials. In fact, 76% of all paper and packaging generated in the state can be recycled through existing curbside programs.

What’s missing in New York isn’t infrastructure, it’s participation. What holds the system back are:

A lack of education and outreach
Sign-up requirements

Research from the Recycling Partnership shows participation increases when families are automatically signed up for recycling programs instead of having to opt in. Yet 40% of households in New York must proactively enroll for service.

Recycling Partnership research also shows that a $10 per household investment is needed to drive real results. Yet municipalities spend just $1.12 on average per household on outreach and education.

New York doesn’t need extended producer responsibility. They need to invest in education and make recycling easy for every household.

Paper Recycling Already Works in New York

Paper recycling is one of New York’s biggest success stories. Today, paper and paper packaging are among the most recycled materials in the state:

68%: Old newspaper
55%: Softcover books
48%: Cardboard

Many everyday paper and paper packaging products are widely accepted for curbside recycling, including:

Paper bags
Mail
Office paper
Cardboard boxes
Magazines
Newspaper

Paperboard boxes
Pizza boxes
Shredded paper
Telephone books
Certain types of cartons
Molded fiber packaging like egg cartons

New York doesn’t need costly mandates to improve paper recycling. It needs smart investments in education for their residents.

Industry Explainer

Product Stewardship

Recycling

What is Extended Producer Responsibility

SManger — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

What is Extended Producer Responsibility

SManger Tue, 08/12/2025 - 09:00

Key Takeaways

EPR programs have brand owners, producers, and manufacturers pay to recycle or dispose of their products.

Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in the U.S. The paper industry is working to capture even more paper from the waste stream for recycling. Paper recycling rates in the U.S. have consistently increased in recent decades.

This article covers:

The definition of Extended Producer Responsibility
The role of paper in EPR programs
Our industry’s investment to improve paper recycling
Our recommendation for EPR programs

What is an Extended Producer Responsibility Program?

Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is the concept where brand owners, producers, and material manufacturers pay for the end-of-life costs to recycle or dispose of products they put on the market.

Types of EPR are in place in countries around the world, including in Europe and Canada. It’s also in place in the U.S. too.

Fees for producers vary based on the EPR program. Generally, fees might help cover:

Material collection
Waste disposal
Technology upgrades
Educational materials
Program administration
Development of recycling end-markets

Download What is EPR Handout

Has Extended Producer Responsibility Been Implemented Before in the U.S.?

Yes, EPR programs are already in place in the U.S. In many instances, the EPR program is for hard-to-recycle materials like batteries, paint, electronics and mattresses.

Canada and Europe have similar EPR policies for these types of products as well.
EPR programs can be effective when:

Products are difficult to process
Products have low recycling rates
Healthy end markets do not exist

However, these issues don’t apply to paper and paper-based packaging in the U.S.

What is the Paper Industry’s Role in Extended Producer Responsibility Programs?

EPR programs can be an effective way to improve recycling for materials with low recycling rates. One-size-fits-all EPR proposals don’t distinguish between materials that are highly recycled – like paper and paper packaging products – and those that aren’t.

Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in America. Paper recycling rates in the U.S. are consistently high and have increased in recent decades. Our industry recycles paper from industrial, commercial, institutional and residential streams.

By any metric, paper is a recycling success story.

We recycled around 46 million tons of paper in the U.S. in 2024. That’s 125,000 tons per day.

See the paper recycling rates.

79% of Americans have access to a community residential-curbside recycling program, making it easy to recycle paper and cardboard at home.

Download our 2021 Access to Recycling study.

Robust and resilient end markets already exist for recycled paper. Meaning, when we recover used paper, we’re turning it into new products like boxes and tissue.

Explore the paper recycling process.

DID YOU KNOW

Most U.S. paper mills use some recycled paper to make new products. Recycled paper makes packaging for food and medicine, shipping materials, tissue products like toilet paper and paper towels, and office and newspapers.

Explore the Paper Recycling Process

What Has the Paper Industry Done to Improve Paper Recycling?

Investing in and improving paper recycling has been an industry priority for decades. The paper industry is working to capture even more paper from the waste stream for recycling.

Set Voluntary Goals

The U.S. paper industry set its first recycling goal in 1990 to improve paper recycling rates. We recycle nearly 60% more paper today than we did in 1990.

Works to Increase the Use of Recycled Paper

We’ve committed to using even more recycled paper in new paper products by 2030.

And we’re backing that up with action: During 2019-2025, our industry invested in projects at paper mills that will use over 4.5 million additional tons of recycled paper.

Advocates for Strong Residential Recycling

AF&PA and our members are strong advocates for residential recycling programs. We work with stakeholders and partners who encourage community involvement to increase recycling access and improve education.

Has an Ownership Stake in Recycling

AF&PA members own and operate more than 100 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) nationwide. That’s where recyclables are sorted and processed.

Invests in Education, Resources and Research

In the 1990s, AF&PA created a program to help promote paper recycling in the U.S., which is still ongoing today. Our industry also tested and found pizza boxes and all-paper padded mailers can be successfully recycled at paper mills.

Improving Recycling Systems Requires Data-Driven Solutions

Waste and recycling management is complex because of things like:

Geographic region
Differences in what’s accepted based on community, city, county and state jurisdiction
Difference in waste management companies
Proximity to/amount of materials recovery facilities
Housing type

Product manufacturing and the supply chain is also complex and crosses state lines. For example, recycled paper can be shipped to a paper mill in a different state. What’s accepted by paper mills might not be accepted in local communities.

Robust data helps states understand what’s working well within their recycling system so they can maximize success and minimize harm. They also identify issues the state needs to work on in the future.

States need to have as much information as possible about the current waste, recycling and materials management systems before considering EPR programs.

Download What is EPR Handout

Learn About Statewide Needs Assessments

Why Statewide Needs Assessments Are Needed Before EPR

SManger — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:54:05 +0000

Why Statewide Needs Assessments Are Needed Before EPR

SManger Wed, 01/08/2025 - 10:54

Understanding the Current State of a Recycling System is Key

Key Takeaways

Before an EPR program is considered, states need to do a needs assessment. These studies help states better understand the current state of their waste and recycling system.

Starting with a needs assessment study also helps states avoid unintended consequences.

This article explains:

The purpose of statewide needs assessments
Why recycling and waste systems are complex
Why states should complete a needs assessment before implementing an EPR program

Learn About Extended Producer Responsibility Programs

What is a Statewide Needs Assessment?

Needs assessments have the potential to look at all different aspects of how a state manages recycling and waste. That can include information on:

Existing recycling, compost and disposal infrastructure
Access to curbside recycling
The state of urban and rural recycling
State compost standards
Current recycling rates for paper, plastic, metals, glass and other materials
What is and is not considered recyclable
How much recyclable material goes to landfills

This data helps states understand what’s working well within their recycling system. They also identify issues the state needs to work on in the future.

States can also do waste characterization studies. These help states discover how much paper, food, metal and more is ending up in their waste streams by reviewing the material collected.

This is helpful but doesn’t look at the full picture of a state’s entire infrastructure like a needs assessment does.

Download Statewide Needs Assessments Handout

Why Are Recycling and Waste Systems So Complex?

Waste and recycling management in a state is complex because of things like:

Geographic region: An urban area might have access to curbside recycling, trash and organics disposal while a rural area might have drop-off access only. Transportation distances between homes in rural areas can make curbside more challenging.
Difference in waste management companies: The companies who haul away trash and recyclables are different depending on location. What they collect can differ as well.
Materials processing facilities: The place where your recycling is sorted. The technology can differ between these facilities as can what they accept.
Housing type: Collection from single-family neighborhoods differs from condos and apartments, also known as multi-family housing.

Why Do These Things Make Recycling Complex?

A home inside city limits might have a contract with a specific waste management company. That company has a list of items that they’re willing to collect based on what they can sell on the recovered materials marketplace.

A home outside of city limits in the county uses a different waste management company. The list of what they collect is different from what is collected inside city limits. The frequency that they run collection routes can differ too.

This is just one example of how the list of what’s accepted for recycling can differ across city and county lines.

It’s also one of the reasons why states need to understand the current system before they make changes.

Why Should a State Complete a Needs Assessment Before Implementing an EPR Program?

Needs assessments are useful tools and help states develop data-based solutions.

A study might show opportunities to improve certain parts of the system. Then, states can focus on solutions to strengthen those areas.

The needs assessment could highlight areas where the system is working well. That allows the state to build in flexibility and reproduce solutions that already work.

EPR programs are costly for states to implement. Using data from a needs assessment helps states focus their resources.

Starting with a needs assessment study also helps states avoid unintended consequences such as:

Negatively affecting recycling rates for easy-to-recycle materials like paper
Impacting already established end-markets
Increasing costs for residents

Download Statewide Needs Assessments Handout

Are Toilet Paper and Paper Towels Sustainable?

SManger — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:44:46 +0000

Are Toilet Paper and Paper Towels Sustainable?

SManger Fri, 08/09/2024 - 11:44

Why Toilet Paper and Paper Towels are a Responsible Choice

Key Takeaways

Our industry uses wood that is unsuitable for building materials and recycled paper to make toilet paper and paper towels. Making these products is a lot like following a recipe. Recycled paper and wood pulp help manufacturers deliver different qualities. U.S. tissue manufacturers need to balance using fresh wood pulp and recycled paper for a few reasons.

Toilet paper and paper towels are common staples in the home. Millions of people across the U.S. rely on paper products. Our industry prioritizes sustainable manufacturing and practices.

Below we answer common questions about toilet paper and paper towels. Dive in and explore why they are a responsible choice.

How are Toilet Paper and Paper Towels Made in the U.S.?

The U.S. tissue industry uses 2 primary inputs to make toilet paper and paper towels.

Wood

We take wood sourcing seriously.

Our members use wood that’s not suitable for building materials. This includes:

Branches
Tree tops
Stumps
Bark
Wood byproducts from sawmills

These wood materials come from sustainably managed working forests where trees are replanted.

AF&PA members adhere to sustainable fiber procurement principles. In fact, it’s a condition of membership. Procurement is how our members source the wood pulp materials they need to make the products people rely on.

These principles assure our members their suppliers are committed to sustainable forest management and harvesting practices.

Recycled Paper

3.9 M Tons

of recycled paper used in 2023

More than 90% of U.S. tissue manufacturers use recycled paper to make their products.

The recycled paper can go directly into the paper towel or toilet paper. It is also often used in packaging like the paperboard tubes these products are wrapped around.

In 2023, tissue producers used about 3.9 million tons of recycled paper. According to Fisher International, North American tissue manufacturers use more recycled paper in their products than those made in Europe and Asia.

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Is it Better to Use Recycled Paper or Wood to Make Paper Towels and Toilet Paper?

It depends on customer preferences. Recycled paper and wood pulp help paper towel and toilet paper manufacturers deliver different qualities such as

Absorbency
Strength
Versatility
Durability

Softness
Recycled content
Budget

Each of these qualities has different requirements. It’s a lot like following a recipe. Recycled paper and wood pulp have different properties that alter the final product. Similar to how different types of flour affect the outcome of a baked good.

U.S. paper towel and toilet paper manufacturers adjust the inputs they use based on what qualities they’re trying to create to meet customer demand. This gives customers multiple options so they can choose what works best for them.

Can U.S. Tissue Producers Use Only Recycled Paper to Make Paper Towels and Toilet?

U.S. paper towel manufacturers need to balance using both fresh wood pulp and recycled paper for a few reasons:

Limited Resources

The amount and type of recycled paper to make toilet paper and paper towels is limited. If the U.S. paper industry used only recycled paper to make all our products, including packaging, paper, pulp and tissue, we would run out in about 7 months.

During the recycling process, the fibers that makeup paper pulp get shorter and weaker. Eventually, they can no longer be used, and fresh wood pulp is needed.

Market Dynamics

The type of recycled paper primarily used in tissue products is mixed office paper. The amount of available mixed office paper is going down, which affects how much tissue producers can use.

Also, most of the available recycled paper manufacturers can use is from brown packaging. This is not appropriate for making white paper towels, toilet paper or other tissue products.

Like a recipe, manufacturers have to use the right mix of ingredients to make their products.

Meeting Customer Preferences

Recycled paper and fresh wood pulp produce paper towels and toilet paper with different qualities. Certain characteristics can only be achieved using fresh wood pulp.

Does Using Paper Towels and Toilet Paper Cause Deforestation?

No. The U.S. pulp and paper industry, which includes paper towel producers, is not linked to global deforestation.

U.S. forest managers have kept U.S. forestland stable since the 1950s through planting and natural regeneration. Today:

1/3 of the U.S. is forested.
The net forest area in the U.S. has increased steadily in the past 30 years.
More than 1 billion trees are planted in the U.S. each year.

Our industry uses trees from managed, working forests. These forests are continuously replanted, ensuring a healthy balance for the future.

Foresters, biologists, conservationists and other professionals work together to ensure there are healthy forests for years to come.

How Does the Paper Industry Prioritize Sustainability?

Sustainable practices are the foundation of our industry.

In 2011, AF&PA was one of the first manufacturing industries to set quantifiable sustainability goals. AF&PA members met or exceeded many of those goals.

Our members are leading the way towards a more sustainable future with 5 quantifiable sustainability goals they aim to achieve by 2030.

These commitments are about taking action. Our members are continually innovating to:

Improve water management
Reduce emissions
Enhance wildlife habitats
Capture more recycled material

Discover what sustainability in action looks like in the paper industry.

Download MIT Case Study

We developed a case study with MIT looking at what happens if tissue producers used 10% more recycled paper when making products.

Download the Case Study

Advancing Resilient U.S. Forests

AF&PA members have a 2030 sustainability goal to advance resilient U.S. forests. Explore what we’re aiming to accomplish.

Virtual Forest Tour

Want to see how working forests operate? Do a virtual forest walk through with Georgia-Pacific.

Benefits of Managed Forests

Explore how managed forests store carbon.

Industry Explainer

Marketplace Sustainability

Sustainable Forestry

Tissue

Why the EU Needs to Reconsider Their Deforestation Law

SManger — Wed, 29 May 2024 18:50:01 +0000

Why the EU Needs to Reconsider Their Deforestation Law

SManger Wed, 05/29/2024 - 14:50

Key Things to Know About How EUDR Affects the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry

The European Union (EU) issued a new law in 2023 called the European Union Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR). The law is part of the comprehensive EU Green Deal.

EUDR aims to curb deforestation and forest degradation that could be linked to the import or export of certain commodities in the EU. We support what the EU is trying to achieve with their anti-deforestation law.

We have a long history of sustainable forest management. We also have a track record of success in environmental stewardship.

The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation.

However, as with all laws and regulations, details matter. EUDR, as currently written, imposes some unachievable requirements that create significant technical barriers, which risks trade between the EU and the U.S.

Let’s explore why the anti-deforestation law puts the U.S. pulp and paper industry at risk. We explain:

How a company complies with the law
Why the U.S. pulp paper industry does not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation
The complexity and impractical nature of the traceability requirement
Why the traceability requirement would disrupt trade
A workable solution to avoid trade disruptions

Download the EUDR Explainer Handout

What is the EU’s Deforestation Law?

The European Union Deforestation-Free Products Regulation went into effect in June of 2023. The law aims to fight global deforestation and forest degradation by regulating certain products entering or leaving the EU market.

This law is unprecedented because of the requirements it imposes to comply with the law.

It requires EU importers and exporters to prove their agricultural products are:

Deforestation and forest degradation-free after 2020
In compliance with country laws
Supported by a mandatory Due Diligence Statement and extensive accompanying data

Is Paper Included in EUDR?

60%

the amount of specialty pulp supply the U.S. ships to the EU

Yes. Wood and products made with wood fiber from trees are included in the law. For our industry, that includes:

Materials used to make a final product like pulp, printing paper, and packaging materials used to make items like cardboard boxes, cereal boxes and shoe boxes.
Final products like books, paper towels, diapers or medicine boxes.

U.S. forest product exports to the EU are valued at over $3.5 billion. The U.S. ships about 60% of the EU’s supply of specialty pulp that’s used to make things like diapers, menstrual and incontinence products.

^{Photo credit: Domtar}

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How Does a Company Comply with EUDR?

The EU’s deforestation law has multiple requirements companies must comply with. There are 3 key conditions to put products in or out of the EU marketplace:

Proof the products do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.
Product production follows the laws of the country where they are produced. That includes complying with:
1. Environmental protection regulations
2. Land-use rights
3. Forest management rules
4. Labor laws
5. Tax laws
6. Human rights laws
Every shipment is accompanied by a due diligence statement which includes comprehensive information:
1. Product trade name, description, name(s) of tree species, and quantity.
2. Geolocation of all plots of land from which the product originates, with time and date range of production.
3. Contact details of supplier and client d. Upload all data through an EU Central Information System

Companies and producers must comply starting December 30, 2024. Those not in compliance can be fined and have their products seized.

The U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry Does Not Contribute to Global Deforestation and Forest Degradation

1/3

of the U.S.
is forested

1 Billion +

trees are planted
each year in the U.S.

For 30 years

net forest area has
increased steadily

The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation.

Today, U.S. forests are stable, healthy and growing:

1/3 of the U.S. is forested.
More than 1 billion trees are planted each year.
The net forest area in the U.S. has increased steadily in the past 30 years.

Our industry is committed to sustainable forest management best practices including:

Forest certification programs to provide standards, guidelines and structure for sustainable forest management.
Fiber sourcing programs that are third-party verified and are recognized globally.

Additionally, AF&PA members adhere to sustainable fiber procurement principles as a condition of membership. Procurement is how our members get the wood they need to make the products we rely on

These principles assure the suppliers our members source wood from are committed to sustainable forest management and harvesting practices.

We also have a 2030 sustainability goal to advance more resilient U.S. forests. It’s part of our Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future initiative.

Our goal furthers our efforts by enhancing the diverse values forests provide. Things like water, carbon, biodiversity, recreation and forest products.

We’re doing this through:

Supporting conservation and restoration programs and initiatives
Engaging in partnerships and investing in research, outreach and education
Promoting sustainable forest management practices
Committing to increased supply chain transparency regarding responsible sourcing.

As part of Better Practices, Better Planet 2030, AF&PA members will also continue their commitment to procure wood fiber through certified sourcing.

Check Out an Award-Winning Member Forestry Project

Explore How Managed Forests Store Carbon

Dive Into our 2020 Forestry Goal Achievements

The EU’s Deforestation Law is Concerning for the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry

What’s concerning for our industry is how EUDR will be implemented, especially EUDR’s strict geolocation traceability requirements. This requirement could pose technical trade barriers for U.S. companies based on our complex supply chain and fiber flow process.

Let’s break down the traceability requirement and why U.S. producers cannot currently comply with it.

What is the EUDR Traceability Requirement?

The EU’s deforestation law requires producers to trace each product shipment back to the specific real estate plots of land that is or could be linked to the shipment. That means providing the exact geographic location coordinates like those from a GPS.

In addition, each exporter must identify and provide contact information from the supply chain associated with each shipment. This is part of their due diligence obligations.

This may sound good in theory, but pulp and paper supply chains are complex.

Understanding How U.S. Pulp and Paper Supply Chains Work

40%

of wood input comes from leftover materials

In the U.S., more than half of forest land is owned and managed by an estimated 10.6 million private forest owners. These private forests provide about 90% of the wood to make forest products.

Our industry uses multiple wood inputs from these:

About 40% comes from leftover materials from a sawmill or forest residue. Forest residue includes branches, stumps, bark and more that are left over after a thinning or harvest.
About 60% comes from solid wood harvests.

Our use of leftover materials and forest residues is one of the ways we’re helping advance the circular economy.

The wood inputs used to make a single batch of pulp at a mill can come from multiple sources. This is called a fiber flow.

That’s because wood and wood chips mix throughout the supply chain including:

Initial storage of a log or leftover material
Chipping process at a saw, chip or pulp and paper mill
Chip pile at a pulp and paper mill
Pulping process
Paper machine

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U.S. Pulp and Paper Mills Cannot Comply with EUDR’s Unrealistic Traceability Requirement

No current

technology to trace fiber flow

The EUDR’s strict geolocation and traceability requirements pose significant challenges because of our industry’s complex supply chains.

The leftover materials from sawmills and forest residues our industry uses are regularly blended multiple times throughout the production process.

This makes tracing each individual wood chip from the original forest plot of land to a final product effectively impossible.

Additionally, the technology needed to trace our fiber flow to comply with this requirement does not currently exist.

The unachievable traceability requirement could cause major trade disruptions between the EU and the U.S.

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Trade Consequences of EUDR’s Traceability Requirement

The EU relies on pulp and paper imports from the U.S. We export around $3.5 billion worth of products to EU countries.

We also supply about 60% of the specialty pulp EU manufacturers use to make diapers, menstrual and incontinence products. The U.S. supplies 85% of the specialty pulp used globally.

EU manufacturers would not receive the supply of specialty pulp needed if U.S. pulp and paper manufacturers cannot overcome the technical barriers of the traceability requirement.

This would cause significant trade disruptions between the U.S. and the EU and disrupt the EU marketplace.

Developing a Workable Solution for the Challenges EUDR Poses to the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry

We encourage the European Commission to consider the challenges EUDR poses for the U.S. pulp and paper industry to avoid major trade disruptions.

The U.S. pulp and paper industry is a responsible steward of our planet’s resources. We have long history of sustainable forest management and innovation.

The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation.

We are a strong proponent of international efforts to suppress deforestation and forest degradation. This is why we need to be considered a “low-risk” country.

That’s why we need a realistic solution that recognizes U.S. sustainable forestry management and will enable our producers to comply with the intent of the EU deforestation-free regulation without disrupting trade between the EU and the U.S.

We are not alone in our concerns with the implementation of EUDR:

The U.S. Congress has weighed in multiple times through bipartisan letters from both chambers:
- Members of the U.S. Senate urged the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to engage with the European Commission to gain clarity around the regulation’s requirements.
- Members of the U.S. House sent a letter to USTR.
The U.S. government called for a delay in a joint letter.
Multiple EU members called for a delay in implementation.
Other key members of the U.S. forest products industry value chain have asked the European Commission to delay the implementation.

We believe in balanced and achievable regulations. We welcome the opportunity to work together with EU regulators and other stakeholders in the implementation of EUDR.

Industry Explainer

Marketplace Sustainability

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Sustainable Forestry

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Solutions to Minnesota's Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act

SManger — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:09:59 +0000

Solutions to Minnesota's Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act

SManger Thu, 03/28/2024 - 12:09

Why Are Lawmakers Rushing EPR for Packaging and Paper Products in Minnesota?

We are encouraged to see Minnesota lawmakers focus on improving recycling infrastructure. Recycling is a critical part of the U.S. paper industry. We have a track record of success in improving paper recycling.

Our industry first set a goal to help improve paper recycling in the 1990s. The recycling rate has doubled since that time.

We also have an ownership stake in the recycling system. AF&PA members own and operate more than 100 materials recovery facilities nationwide, including 2 in Minnesota. That’s where your recyclables are sorted and processed.

Recycled paper products are a key component of our circular value chain.

However, lawmakers are rushing to implement the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act without considering the consequences to paper recycling.

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

The Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act (HF 3577/SF 3561) is legislation that implements an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and paper products.

EPR is a waste management strategy where brand owners, producers and material manufacturers pay for the end-of-life costs to recycle or dispose of products they put on the market.

EPR programs work well for hard-to-recycle materials like batteries and mattresses. They’re also effective when:

Products are difficult to process
Products have low recycling rates
Healthy end markets do not exist

However, these issues don’t apply to paper and paper-based packaging in the U.S.

Download the What Is EPR Factsheet

Paper Packaging and Printed Papers Are Widely Recycled in Minnesota

81%

of Minnesotans have access to curbside paper recycling programs

73%

have access to drop-off recycling for paper products

63%

or higher recycling rate since 2009

Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in the U.S. and Minnesotans have access to community paper recycling programs.

More than 81% of Minnesotans have access to curbside recycling programs that accept paper packaging and printed papers. More than 73% have access to drop-off recycling for paper products.

Paper products that are widely accepted for recycling include:

Cardboard boxes
Pizza boxes
Mail
Office paper
Magazines
Paper bags
Newspapers
Food boxes like cereal and pasta
Over-the-counter medicine boxes
Milk and juice cartons

Paper recycling rates have continuously increased over recent decades and remain consistently high.

In fact, the paper recycling rate has met or exceeded 63% each year since 2009.

Improving Minnesota’s Recycling System Requires Data-Driven Solutions

Waste and recycling management in a state is complex because of things like:

Geographic region
Difference in waste management companies
Materials processing facilities
Housing type

These, and other factors, are why states like Minnesota need to understand the current system before implementing an EPR program.

We support and encourage Minnesota lawmakers to complete a needs assessment before considering an EPR program. This would help them reach their goals to improve their recycling system.

Needs assessments have the potential to look at all different aspects of how a state manages recycling and waste. They include a look at:

Existing recycling, compost and disposal infrastructure
Current costs of the existing infrastructure
Access to curbside recycling
The state of urban and rural recycling
State compost standards
Current recycling rates for paper, plastic, metals, glass and other materials
What is and is not considered recyclable
How much recyclable material goes to landfills
Education efforts

This data helps states understand what’s working well within their recycling system. They also identify issues the state needs to work on in the future.

EPR programs are costly for states to implement. Using data from a needs assessment helps states focus their resources.

Minnesota would be in good company, too. Multiple states are already undergoing needs assessments to determine the best path forward for their recycling and waste management systems.

Download the Statewide Needs Assessment Factsheet

Paper Products and Printed Papers Don’t Belong in Minnesota’s EPR Program

EPR programs can be an effective way to improve recycling for materials with low recycling rates. But paper is already a highly and widely recycled material.

According to the EPA, more paper by weight is recovered from municipal solid waste streams for recycling than plastic, glass, steel, and aluminum combined.

Paper recycling rates have continuously increased over recent decades and remain consistently high. The paper recycling rate has met or exceeded 63% each year since 2009.

Printed papers like office and copy paper are already successfully recycled and turned into new products.

Recycled paper and packaging is used to make cardboard boxes, boxes for food and medicine, tissue products like toilet paper and paper towels, as well as newspapers.

About 80% of U.S. paper mills use some recycled paper to make new and innovative products.

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

Why Statewide Needs Assessments are Needed Before EPR

Explore the Paper Recycling Process

What is Biomass Energy?

SManger — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:42:37 +0000

What is Biomass Energy? 

SManger Wed, 11/29/2023 - 13:42

The paper and wood products industry is part of a circular value chain that prides itself on sustainable practices. We’re a crucial part of the climate solution.

One of the ways we’re doing that is through the production of carbon beneficial and renewable biomass energy. Then we use that biomass energy to fuel our mills to displace the use of fossil fuels.

Let’s dive into what biomass energy is and how our industry uses it in manufacturing.

What is Biomass Energy?

Different groups use a variety of definitions, some wider and some narrower. For our purposes, biomass is organic plant material from forests.

Biomass energy is when you can use that organic plant material from forests as fuel to create heat and power.

How is Biomass Energy Used by the Paper and Wood Products Industry?

We use biomass energy to replace fossil fuels

Our industry uses every part of the trees possible so that nothing goes to waste. For our industry, biomass energy comes from the leftover parts of the tree that could otherwise go to landfills. Things like branches, bark and chips.

We use biomass energy to replace fossil fuels when creating the heat and power needed to manufacture our products. The things you use every day like paper, packaging, tissue and wood products like the lumber in your house.

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Is the Paper Industry Cutting Down Trees for Biomass Energy?

No. We use the leftover parts of the tree that could otherwise go to landfills to create biomass energy. Things like bark, branches and liquid bioenergy extracted from wood chips while manufacturing pulp for paper products.

The paper and wood products industry then uses every part of the tree possible in our manufacturing process, so nothing goes to waste.

From the log to create lumber and other wood products, to the leftover chips that are used in pulp and paper products.

The log goes on to create products like lumber, furniture, paper and packaging. Anything remaining is converted to biomass energy used to power the mills.

Where Does the Paper Industry Get Trees for Products?

90%

of wood is sourced from private, sustainably managed working forests

The paper industry uses trees from healthy, managed working forests where harvesting of trees is permitted. We source our trees from two types of working forests:

Private Working Forests
Public Working Forests

The vast majority of our country’s working forests are on private land. These are owned by individuals, families, small and large businesses. Many of these forests have been in families for generations.

Trees on working forests are replanted and grown again while protecting the ecosystem of the forest. Careful harvesting and planting ensure there are forests for decades to come.

90% of the wood that is used to produce the essential paper and wood products that Americans use every day is sourced from private, sustainably managed working forests.

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Does the Paper Industry Cause Deforestation?

1/3

of the U.S. is forested, totaling 766 million acres

Our industry is a leader in promoting sustainable forest management. Forests in the U.S. are strong. In the U.S., more than 1 billion trees are planted each year. One-third of the nation is forested, totaling nearly 766 million acres.

Deforestation is the permanent conversion of forests to other uses like new housing developments or agriculture. Harvesting is the removal of trees, but it is not the permanent conversion of a forest.

As a condition of membership, AF&PA members commit to sustainable forest management and sourcing wood from responsibly managed working forests.

The U.S. grows twice the volume of trees than is harvested. And, about 2% of working forests are harvested each year. More forestland in the U.S., both working and non-working, is disturbed by natural events like insects, disease and fire than is harvested.

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How is Biomass Energy Helping Capture Carbon?

Forests are one of the single greatest carbon storage technologies on the planet.

And as those trees mature, they suck carbon out of the atmosphere and store that very same carbon in the products we make. A whole lot of it. American forests, for instance, offset about 13% of U.S. carbon emissions annually.

That means biomass energy is helping take more carbon out of the atmosphere than it emits.

This makes it a much cleaner and more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels like coal.

Is Biomass Energy Renewable and Sustainable?

Yes, biomass energy created by the paper and wood products industry is renewable and sustainable. For an energy source to be renewable, it needs to come from a source that is non-exhaustible or can be replenished continuously.

Our industry uses every part of the tree in our manufacturing process. We use the leftovers from the tree like bark, liquid bioenergy, and branches to create biomass energy.

We source our trees from sustainably and responsibly managed working forests to manufacture essential products. Those forests are healthy, growing and helping to capture carbon.

Trees on working forests are replanted and grown again while protecting the ecosystem of the forest. Careful harvesting and planting ensures there are forests for decades to come. This cycle is done through long-term and continuous planning.

About 2% of working forests are harvested each year. More forestland in the U.S., both working and non-working, is disturbed by natural events like insects, disease and fire than is harvested.

How our industry uses biomass energy is also sustainable. About two-thirds of the energy used by paper and wood products mills is generated from biomass energy. We also sell power, called bioelectricity, to the grid.

The sustainable use of biomass energy to power paper mills reduces greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels.

Our use of biomass energy prevents about 181 million metric tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere each year. That’s roughly equal to removing 35 million cars from the road.

We’ve also decreased our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 24% since 2005. That was accomplished in part by using biomass energy.

Does that Mean Biomass Energy is Carbon Neutral?

Yes, biomass energy is carbon neutral.

Repeated studies, agencies, institutions, policies and virtually every country around the world recognize the carbon neutrality of the biomass energy produced by the paper and wood products industry.

How the Paper Industry Champions Sustainable Forestry

Is the Paper Industry Sustainable?

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Paper Manufacturing

Why EPA Should Not Finalize the Particulate Matter NAAQS Standard

SManger — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 13:16:41 +0000

Why EPA Should Not Finalize the Particulate Matter NAAQS Standard

SManger Fri, 10/27/2023 - 09:16

The Need for Sustainable and Achievable Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps set national standards and guidelines to protect the environment. All Americans benefit when the EPA develops achievable rules and regulations.

We have a shared goal of sustainable regulation. In fact, we have a long track record of success working with the EPA to create achievable rules.

EPA is proposing an update to their National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter, PM2.5. However, their proposal threatens manufacturing industries. Let’s explore why.

What is Fine Particulate Matter?

Fine particulate matter is made up of a mixture of tiny particles in the air. It includes things like dust, smoke, dirt, soot and exhaust fumes.

Fine particulate matter comes from many different sources like:

Wildfires
Road dust
Vehicle exhaust
Industrial facilities

Are Levels of Fine Particulate Matter Increasing or Decreasing?

The U.S. enjoys some of the cleanest air in the world today. Ambient air levels of PM 2.5 have been trending downward over the past 20 years.

Levels will continue declining due to other requirements that already exist.

What is the PM2.5 NAAQS Proposed Rule?

The proposed rule for PM2.5 NAAQS will further tighten the air quality standard for fine particulate matter.

The current standard for PM2.5 NAAQS is 12 ug/m3. This leaves room for economic growth and development, including modernization projects at our mills.

The proposed rule could tighten the standard close to average ambient air background levels, which are around 8 ug/m3. Background levels mean the average air quality from both natural and manmade sources.

How Do Modernization Projects Get Permits?

The purpose of a permit is to make sure a new manufacturing modernization project doesn’t exceed the standard. A project receives a permit when there is sufficient “headroom” to allow the project.

Headroom is the difference between the standard and the background level that’s already in the air, including from natural sources like wildfires and road dust.

Under the current PM NAAQS standard, the typical headroom available for a new project is about 3 to 6 micrograms (ug). An average project adds around 3 ug. If you subtract the standard, 12 ug, from the current background levels, 8 ug, that gives you 4 ug.

A modernization project of 3 ug could proceed because it’s less than 4 ug. If it’s more than 4 ug, the project doesn’t receive a permit.

How Does the Proposed PM2.5 Rule Affect the Paper Industry?

The maps show how lowering the standard shrinks the attainment areas. An attainment area is a location that meets the national air quality standard. Green shows what is in attainment and has sufficient headroom for a permit to allow mill modernization projects.

Red shows nonattainment areas, or locations that don’t meet the standard. Finally, pink shows other cleaner areas that are in attainment, but lack permit headroom for modernization projects to proceed.

Many of our paper mills are located in cleaner, attainment areas under the current standard. This allows modernization projects to receive a permit.

Any lowering of the standard will result in more non-attainment areas in the U.S. This would threaten many manufacturing industries, including the paper industry.

What’s concerning for paper mills is that many would now be in the pink area and would often not be able to get permits. Lowering the standard would threaten or prevent modernization projects and other major improvements to paper mills.

As our industry modernizes paper mills, we’re improving air quality.

Modernization projects help provide lower emissions per ton of production. That includes reductions in particulate matter, greenhouse gases, and other emissions.

This standard would also undermine the Biden Administration’s promise to grow and reshore U.S. manufacturing jobs. We need to be able to modernize our facilities so we can keep high-paying manufacturing jobs in the U.S.

What has the Paper Industry Done to Decrease Emissions?

Our industry is a leader in sustainability, and we are rooted in sustainable practices. Paper manufacturers work hard to be a good neighbor and environmental steward in communities across our nation.

Our facilities have made substantial progress in reducing our emissions. The paper industry has state-of-the-art air pollution controls on their facilities.

We are less than 1% of the overall PM2.5 emissions. We have decreased our nitrogen oxide emissions by about 50% and our sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 80% since 2000.

Some of the larger sources of particulate matter in the air are wildfires, dust and exhaust. The PM NAAQS rule does not address these larger sources.

Particulate matter emissions from industrial facilities will continue to go down in the years ahead under current air quality programs.

See our progress in reducing GHG emissions

What Are the Largest Sources of Fine Particulate Matter?

Fine particulate matter comes from many different sources. Some of the larger sources include:

Wildfires
Dust
Exhaust fumes

Currently, the proposed PM2.5 rule does not account for these sources of particulate matter. And these sources of fine particulate matter directly impact public health.

Stationary sources included in the PM2.5 rule, which includes industrial facilities like paper mills, account for less than 20% of overall particulate matter emissions.

Those emissions will continue to go down under current air quality programs.

Wildfire smoke is one of the leading causes of particulate matter in the air.

Lowering the standard could prevent foresters and landowners from being able to use prescribed fires to prevent wildfires.

One of the best ways to manage and prevent wildfires is prescribed fires. They are planned fires that help meet sustainable forest management goals.

If larger sources of particulate matter are not addressed, then air quality will still be affected.

What Would Help the Paper Industry Meet the PM2.5 NAAQS Standard?

We sent a letter to the White House outlining our concerns with the proposed PM NAAQS standard. Additionally, along with 70 other manufacturing organizations, we warned of the economic consequences the proposed standard would cause.

The EPA needs to develop an implementation plan before finalizing this rule so our industry has a clear path to achieve it.

Currently, the proposed rule uses unrealistic modeling to determine what ambient air quality levels are. A plan based on sound science needs to rely on realistic modeling that accurately reflects real-world conditions.

And, by allowing modernization projects to proceed, we can continue to work to decrease our emissions.

We welcome the opportunity to work together on an efficient implementation plan.

Explore How the Paper Industry is Embracing Sustainability

Sustainability

Energy & Environment

Industry Explainer

The Facts About EPR Legislation in New York

EPR Raises Costs for Families

New York Already Has a Strong Recycling System

Paper Recycling Already Works in New York

What is Extended Producer Responsibility

Key Takeaways

What is an Extended Producer Responsibility Program?

Has Extended Producer Responsibility Been Implemented Before in the U.S.?

What is the Paper Industry’s Role in Extended Producer Responsibility Programs?

DID YOU KNOW

What Has the Paper Industry Done to Improve Paper Recycling?

Set Voluntary Goals

Works to Increase the Use of Recycled Paper

Advocates for Strong Residential Recycling

Has an Ownership Stake in Recycling

Invests in Education, Resources and Research

Improving Recycling Systems Requires Data-Driven Solutions

Why Statewide Needs Assessments Are Needed Before EPR

Understanding the Current State of a Recycling System is Key

Key Takeaways

What is a Statewide Needs Assessment?

Why Are Recycling and Waste Systems So Complex?

Why Do These Things Make Recycling Complex?

Why Should a State Complete a Needs Assessment Before Implementing an EPR Program?

Are Toilet Paper and Paper Towels Sustainable?

Why Toilet Paper and Paper Towels are a Responsible Choice

Key Takeaways

How are Toilet Paper and Paper Towels Made in the U.S.?

Wood

Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

Is it Better to Use Recycled Paper or Wood to Make Paper Towels and Toilet Paper?

Can U.S. Tissue Producers Use Only Recycled Paper to Make Paper Towels and Toilet?

Limited Resources

Market Dynamics

Meeting Customer Preferences

Does Using Paper Towels and Toilet Paper Cause Deforestation?

How Does the Paper Industry Prioritize Sustainability?

Download MIT Case Study

Why the EU Needs to Reconsider Their Deforestation Law

Key Things to Know About How EUDR Affects the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry

What is the EU’s Deforestation Law?

Is Paper Included in EUDR?

How Does a Company Comply with EUDR?

The U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry Does Not Contribute to Global Deforestation and Forest Degradation

1/3

of the U.S. is forested

1 Billion +

trees are planted each year in the U.S.

For 30 years

net forest area has increased steadily

The EU’s Deforestation Law is Concerning for the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry

What is the EUDR Traceability Requirement?

Understanding How U.S. Pulp and Paper Supply Chains Work

U.S. Pulp and Paper Mills Cannot Comply with EUDR’s Unrealistic Traceability Requirement

Trade Consequences of EUDR’s Traceability Requirement

Developing a Workable Solution for the Challenges EUDR Poses to the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry

Solutions to Minnesota's Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act

Why Are Lawmakers Rushing EPR for Packaging and Paper Products in Minnesota?

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

Paper Packaging and Printed Papers Are Widely Recycled in Minnesota

81%

of Minnesotans have access to curbside paper recycling programs

73%

have access to drop-off recycling for paper products

63%

or higher recycling rate since 2009

Improving Minnesota’s Recycling System Requires Data-Driven Solutions

Paper Products and Printed Papers Don’t Belong in Minnesota’s EPR Program

What is Biomass Energy?

What is Biomass Energy?

How is Biomass Energy Used by the Paper and Wood Products Industry?

Is the Paper Industry Cutting Down Trees for Biomass Energy?

Where Does the Paper Industry Get Trees for Products?

Does the Paper Industry Cause Deforestation?

How is Biomass Energy Helping Capture Carbon?

Is Biomass Energy Renewable and Sustainable?

Does that Mean Biomass Energy is Carbon Neutral?

Why EPA Should Not Finalize the Particulate Matter NAAQS Standard

of the U.S.
is forested

trees are planted
each year in the U.S.

net forest area has
increased steadily