Recycling Statistics

Paced by a nearly 11 percent rise in net exports, recovery of old corrugated containers (OCC) rose 2.0 percent in 2006 to 25.2 million tons.  During the same time, U.S. containerboard consumption rose 1.7 percent. As a result, the OCC recovery rate increased to 76.4 percent in 2006 from a revised 76.1 percent in 2005.

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 (60.2 percent)
• Recycled paperboard (15.7 percent)
• Tissue (less than 1 percent)
• Packaging and industrial converting (1.6 percent)
• Exports to other countries (20.7 percent)
• Other (1.2 percent)

* Source: American Forest & Paper Association