The United States recycled approximately 45 million tons of paper, including cardboard, in 2025, with recovery rates holding steady despite lower domestic paper and paperboard production.
Between 61% and 65% of the paper available for recovery was recycled during the year, according to data released by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). The recycling rate for cardboard available for recovery ranged from 70% to 75%.
The total volume recycled averaged roughly 123,000 tons per day and included more than 33 million tons of cardboard. AF&PA said the United States now recycles nearly 60% more paper than it did in 1990.
More than two-thirds of the paper recycled in the United States was used to manufacture new products at domestic mills. Nearly half, or approximately 20 million tons, went into containerboard, the paperboard grade used to make corrugated boxes.
About 29% of the recovered paper was exported for use by mills in other countries. The remaining volume went into products including folding cartons for food and pharmaceuticals, tissue products and printing papers.
Paper recovery remained strong despite changing market conditions. A decline in U.S. paper and paperboard production reduced the amount of recovered paper available for recycling.
U.S. mills consumed 31.4 million tons of recycled paper to manufacture new products in 2025, down 1.3 million tons from the previous year. Despite that decrease, recovery remained high relative to the available supply, helping U.S. paper and cardboard recycling rates remain broadly stable.
“2025’s recycling rate demonstrates the staying power of America’s paper recycling system and the industry behind it,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock.
Brock said the large-scale recovery and reuse of paper fiber supports the production of paper and packaging products while advancing circularity within the industry.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) represents U.S. producers of pulp, paper, packaging and tissue products. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people and generates over US$435 billion in products annually.
