The average amount of recycled fiber in the newsprint used by U.S. newspapers and other newsprint consumers increased from 10% in 1989 to more than 28% today. Market forces have also recycled newspapers into cereal boxes, egg cartons, pencil barrels, grocery bags, cellulose insulation materials, tissue paper and many more diverse products. Of the more than 9 million tons1 of old newspapers recycled in 2000:
• Over 37% was turned into new newsprint by producers in the United States. Many old newspapers were exported to Canada, primarily for the production of new newsprint.
• The remainder was recycled into other useful products such as paperboard, packaging, construction paper, tissue and containerboard or exported for recycling into newsprint or other products. Old newspapers were also turned into cellulose insulation for construction materials and bedding for farm animals.

1 These statistics are calculated on short tons. To convert to metric tons, divide the number of short tons by 1.1023.
2 Insulation, animal bedding, hydromulch seeding. Source: American Forest and Paper Association