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Recycling Corrugated

Corrugated is a natural, environmentally friendly medium that is recycled more than any other packaging material. It is produced by an industry deeply committed to its "cradle to cradle" involvement in responsible use and reuse of its end products and raw materials.

Recycling Champion.

Corrugated has been recycled for decades, mostly by commercial users such as your neighborhood grocery store. As a matter of fact, 78.3% of all corrugated was recovered for recycling in 2007. 

Families across America have joined in the effort as community recycling programs grew and matured.

The corrugated industry wants to recover its product to make more boxes, which almost always include substantial recycled content, and end users derive revenues from the sale of OCC (old corrugated containers).

Growing demand for and market value of OCC gives communities a good economic reason to recycle corrugated.

Recycling Statistics

Paced by a nearly 4 percent rise in net exports, recovery of old corrugated containers (OCC) rose 2.0 percent in 2007 to 25.6 million tons.  During the same time, U.S. containerboard consumption rose 1 percent. As a result, the OCC recovery rate increased to 78.3 percent in 2007 from 76.3 percent in 2006.

Footnote:
{Sup:*} “Old Corrugated” includes corrugated shipping containers and converter plant cuttings.
{Sup:1} “Recovery Rate” is the ratio of total OCC recovered to total containerboard supply.



Old corrugated containers (OCC) are turned into:
  • Containerboard (59.9 percent)
  • Recycled paperboard (15.3 percent)
  • Tissue (less than 1 percent)
  • Packaging and industrial converting (1.6 percent)
  • Exports to other countries (21.2 percent)
  • Other (1.1 percent)


* Source: American Forest & Paper Association