The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released data from 2021, showing that the recycling rate for old corrugated containers (OCC) was 91.4 percent. Corrugated is the most recycled packaging material in the United States.
More than 35 million tons of corrugated was recovered for recycling.
The corrugated recycling rate has met or exceeded 82 percent since 2009.
In 2021, the paper recycling rate climbed to 68 percent, a rate on par with the highest rate previously achieved. More than 50 million tons of paper was recovered for recycling in 2021.
The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually and employs approximately 950,000 people.
The industry meets a payroll of approximately $60 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states.
