Use of Recycled Newspapers
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 30 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 20031:
- Over 30.8 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
number of short tons by 1.1023.
Source: American Forest and Paper Association
