Corrugated recovery hits 91%, is most-recycled packaging material
The Corrugated Packaging Alliance, Elk Grove Village, Ill., recovery for recycling has increased steadily since 1993, when 54.5% of old corrugated containers (OCC) was recycled. Recovery is also helped by the widespread access to community paper and paper-based packaging recycling programs. According to an American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA) community survey, 87% (268 million) of the U.S. population has access to curbside or drop-off recycling programs.
Most OCC is used to make new paper products. Of the 91% of corrugated recovered in 2012, more than half was used to make new container board (50.1%). An additional 12% was used to make recycled paperboard and more than 34% was exported.