The average
amount of recycled fiber in the newsprint used by U.S. newspapers
and other newsprint consumers increased from 10 percent in 1989
to more than 28 percent 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 tons of old newspapers recycled in 20011:
- Over 38
percent 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.
Source:
American Forest and Paper Association
