US Paper Recovery Rate in 2012 was 65.1 %, says AF&PA report

WASHINGTON (Scrap Monster) : The American Forest and Paper Association (AF & PA) in its yearly report has stated that 65.1% of the paper in the country were recovered for recycling in 2012.

The AF&PA news release highlights the fact that the annual paper recovery rate has nearly doubled since 1990 and remains above the trend line for the industry to achieve its goal of recovering more than 70 percent by 2020.

The association in its report commends the voluntary systems that are in practice towards efficient recovery of paper. Further the association says it is committed to continue supporting education programs and initiatives that help drive awareness to increase recovery.

The AF & PA also released 53rd Annual Survey Report on Paper, Paperboard and Pulp Capacity which states that the US Paper and Paperboard capacity reduced by 1.6% in 2012. The report however forecasts the capacity to remain stable over the period 2013 to 2015. Paper and paperboard capacity is slated to decline 0.4 percent in 2013 but then rise 0.6 percent in 2014 and 0.2 percent in 2015. 

Tissue paper and containerboard grades are slated to add capacity during the next three years, while capacities for newsprint and printing-writing paper grades are expected to decline.  The survey findings indicate that boxboard capacity will hold essentially stable.