Paper Recycling Hits Record High

April 1 -- America recovered an all-time record of 56 percent of the paper consumed in the country last year, reaching a recycling goal set by the American Forest & Paper Association five years ahead of schedule.

The AF&PA previously established a 55-percent recovery goal by 2012, but now has raised that bar to 60 percent by the same year.

The latest numbers were unveiled April 1 in New York City during the industry´s 131st Annual Paper Week conference.

"Industry is demonstrating a real commitment to environmental sustainability by continuing to set and achieve aggressive paper recovery goals," said Donna Harman, president and CEO of the AF&PA trade group.

The country recovered 53.4 percent for recycling in 2006, and the jump to 56 percent was aided by two factors. More than 1 million more tons of paper were recovered in 2007, but the overall supply of paper used in the United States fell by about 4 million tons year-to-year.

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