Use of recovered paper in paper, board making continues rising; U.S. recovery rate hits 45%

The U.S. paper recovery rose by 2.3 million tons in 1999 to a new high of 47.3 million tons as paper and pulp mills continued using more recovered paper in their furnishes. Forest & Paper Association reported that the paper recovery rate - the total paper recovered for domestic use and export as a percentage of purchases of paper and paperboard - rose to 45% in 1999. This compares to 44.6% and 30.5% in 1998, illustrating a consistently upward trend for over a decade.