General Paper Facts 4100 kilowatts saved per ton recycled 60 lbs. of air pollution reduced per ton recycled. (Source: National Polymers Inc.) In 1996, 42.3 million tons of paper were recycled in America. (Source: "Recycling and Buy Recycled Fact Sheets" America Recycles Day) The overall paper and paperboard recovery rate was 44.7 percent for 1996. The total weight of paper and paperboard recovered in 1996 was 42.3 million tons, or 295 pounds per American citizen. (Source: American Forest and Paper Association)
In 1996, the average American recycled 329 pounds of paper- a 9% increase over 1995. (Source: "Recycling and Buy Recycled Fact Sheets" America Recycles Day) What goes into paper?
By Recycling 1 ton of paper you save:
In the manufacturing process of Recycled Paper:
Paper and paperboard account for more than 60% of all materials diverted from the municipal solid waste stream for recycling and composting. In 1993, nearly 36 million tons of paper were recovered in the United States-twice as much as in 1980. More than one of every two newspapers, nearly 60% of all corrugated material and one third of all paper and paperboard packaging ( compared to 12% of all other packaging) are being recovered. One third of all paper collected in the world is recovered in the United States, where an average of 267 pounds in now recovered annually by each citizen (compared to 257 pounds per person in Japan). In all, Americans now recover 40% of all paper used- achieving a goal the industry set for 1995 two years ahead of schedule. Importantly, the U.S. paper industry has set its sights even higher with a new goal to recover- for recycling and reuse - one half of all paper used in the year 2000. (Source: American Forest and Paper Association)
Recycling and Reuse
Diversion from landfills
Newspapers Old newspapers are used again to make new newsprint, as well as other products. In 1992, of the 12.8 million tons of newsprint used in the United States, approximately 1.4 million tons went back into the manufacture of new newspaper. (Source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) Newspapers saves 17 trees for each ton of recycled newspaper. Newspapers used for newsprint, paperboard products (shoe boxes, backings for writing tablets), cellulose insulation (attics of homes), building materials (wallboard, roofing felt, ceiling tiles) (Source: Waste Management, Inc.) 36 tall stack of newspaper saves the equivalent of about 14% of the average household electric bill. (Source: National Polymers Inc.) If all morning newspapers read around the country were recycled, 41,000 trees would be saved daily and 6 million tons of waste would never end up in landfills (Source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries)
Newspaper Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Facts: Generated:
Kraft Paper We use kraft paper every day when we ask supermarkets to pack our groceries in brown paper bags. We also make significant use of kraft paper in shipping sacks that package bulk products such as agricultural seeds, animal feeds, fertilizers, and cement, and in mail wrappings for magazines and catalogues. Tissue and towels Approximately 5.8 million tons of tissue grades, consisting of toilet and facial tissue, paper napkins, towels, diapers, and various other sanitary products are produced in the U.S. annually. In 1992, approximately 3.5 million tons of scrap paper was used to make to manufacture these products. (Source: American Paper Institute) Construction Products Approximately 1.5 million tons of construction products are made each year of paper. These include insulation, gypsum wallboard, roofing paper, flooring, padding, and sound-absorbing materials. All use recycled scrap paper, yet most consumers are unaware of these building materials made with a high recycled paper content. (Source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) Molded products Paper egg cartons, fruit trays, flower pots, as well as some industrial and construction products, are made from scrap paper that is repulped and molded into this special-use packaging. (Source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) Junk Mail
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Paper Consumption Statistics
Paper Producers
Although their overall pulp production is still small, these countries have seen huge increases between 1995 and their estimated capacity in 2000:
Paper Users
Sources:
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