How much paperboard is recycled in us
Executive summary
U.S. paper and paperboard recycling has recently been reported at roughly 46 million tons, which equated to about a 68% recovery rate in 2018 and similar headline figures around the high‑60s for early 2020s reporting (EPA; AF&PA figures) [1] [2]. Industry trade group updates and newer AF&PA methodology revisions put 2024 paper recycling in a different light—AF&PA reports 46 million tons recycled in 2024 and domestic mill use of recycled fiber rising to 32.7 million tons—while AF&PA’s 2024 percentage estimates for “paper available for recovery” are lower (60–64% for paper, 69–74% for cardboard) [2] [3].
1. What the headline numbers mean: tons vs. rates
When sources say “46 million tons” they are reporting the mass of paper and paperboard collected for recycling in a year; EPA’s 2018 data gave 46.0 million tons and a 68.2% recycling rate for paper and paperboard [1] [4]. AF&PA also reports 46 million tons recycled in 2024 but frames the percent recycled differently by comparing recycled tonnage to “material available for recovery,” yielding a 2024 paper rate in the 60–64% band and cardboard at 69–74% [2] [3]. Different denominators produce different percentage headlines.
2. Why percentages diverge: methodology and trade flows
The EPA’s historical rate compares recycled tonnage to generation and produced a ~68% figure for 2018 [1] [4]. AF&PA’s updated methodology introduced sensitivity to trade flows and measures recycling as a share of material “available for recovery,” which can lower the percentage even if tonnage stays similar [5]. Trade and export volumes matter: declines in exports in 2024 were cited by industry observers as one reason fiber recycling rates dipped under the revised method [6] [5].
3. Domestic mill use vs. collection: two different slices of the same pie
AF&PA highlights that U.S. mills used 32.7 million tons of recycled paper in 2024—up from 31.3 million in 2023—showing increasing domestic consumption of recovered fiber even as total recovery rates shift depending on the metric used [2]. That contrast—more recycled fiber used domestically while overall recovery percentages vary—illustrates that collection, export markets and mill demand are distinct parts of the supply chain [2] [5].
4. Cardboard (corrugated) is an outlier — high recovery, contested claims
Corrugated box recycling has long been near the highest rates reported: EPA cited corrugated recycling at 96.5% for 2018, and AF&PA and industry charts commonly put corrugated recovery very high [1] [7]. Industry claims of cardboard/box recovery above 90% have drawn scrutiny and debate over definitions and measurement, as reporting methods differ among organizations [8] [3].
5. Recent trends and pressures shaping volumes
Reporting through 2024–2025 shows mixed signals: the industry invested in mills and pledged increased recycled‑fiber use, but exports, port disruptions and demand shifts have pressured recycling flows and prices [9] [10] [5]. AF&PA and trade press noted a modest slip in paper recycling rates in 2024 attributed largely to reduced exports, while domestic mill use rose [5] [2].
6. How to interpret a single number responsibly
A single percent or tonnage can mislead without method disclosure: tonnage tells how much material was collected, percentage depends on the choice of denominator (generation vs. available for recovery vs. consumption), and domestic use versus exports changes the picture of circularity [1] [2] [5]. The EPA and AF&PA numbers are both factual within their methods; they answer slightly different questions [1] [2].
7. Competing perspectives and implicit agendas
AF&PA is an industry group that emphasizes mills’ use of recycled fiber and investment—its messaging highlights improvements and production benefits [2] [9]. EPA reporting situates recycling within the broader municipal solid waste context and energy/GHG benefits [1] [4]. Trade press and independent recyclers call attention to export dependency and measurement sensitivity [5] [8]. Each source has an implicit agenda: industry to show progress and demand; regulators to show system performance; analysts to spotlight systemic weaknesses.
8. Bottom line for the original question — “how much paperboard is recycled in US”
Available sources do not provide a single, up‑to‑date isolated figure exclusively for “paperboard” separated from paper overall in one place; reporting generally aggregates “paper and paperboard.” For the U.S. aggregate, EPA reported about 46 million tons recycled in 2018 (68.2% rate) and AF&PA reported 46 million tons recycled in 2024 with domestic mill use of 32.7 million tons and a 2024 paper recycling rate reported at 60–64% depending on the AF&PA metric [1] [2] [3]. If you need a precise, current tonnage for paperboard alone, available sources do not mention that specific disaggregation; further targeted data from EPA or AF&PA tables would be required [1] [2].
Limitations: this account relies solely on EPA, AF&PA, and industry reporting provided in your briefing; definitions and methodologies differ across those sources and materially affect headline figures [1] [2] [5].