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Paper Recycling
Paper makes up 27 percent of municipal solid waste (MSW), more than any other material Americans throw away. Because of this, recycling paper can greatly reduce the overall amount of MSW produced. EPA provides information on paper recycling for citizens, students, teachers, professional recyclers, and the paper industry.
Americans recycled about 63 percent of the paper they used in 2013, but more can be done. Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves natural resources, and saves landfill space. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, nearly 80 percent of America’s paper mills are designed to use paper collected in recycling programs, and they depend on paper recycling to supply the raw materials they need to make new paper.
This website contains information on the following topics:
- Basic Information – overview and benefits of paper recycling, and information about the paper making process, recovered paper quality, paper grades and collection, and paper recycling markets
- Where You Live – links to local paper recycling information
- Frequent Questions – questions and answers with facts and figures about paper recycling, as well as answers to other frequent questions about paper recycling
- Setting Up a Program – general resources for setting up a recycling program, and specific information for setting up a school or office recycling program, a residential recycling program, or a commercial recycling program
- Best Practices – success stories, sample contract language, and sample ordinances for recycling programs
- Additional Resources – additional information about paper recycling, including information on buying recycled-content paper and paper products, related Links, publications, and a glossary of terms
