A record-high 63.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2009. This is great news for the industry and the environment, and exceeds the industry’s 60 percent recovery goal three years ahead of schedule. To balance growing global demand for recovered fiber and decreased paper consumption, increasing recovery nationwide remains a priority.
| Supply1 (000 tons) | Recovered (000 tons) | Recovery Rate2 | |
| 1993 | 91,538 | 35,460 | 38.7% |
| 1994 | 95,718 | 39,691 | 41.5% |
| 1995 | 95,971 | 42,189 | 44.0% |
| 1996 | 94,529 | 43,076 | 45.6% |
| 1997 | 99,557 | 43,989 | 44.2% |
| 1998 | 101,183 | 45,076 | 44.6% |
| 1999 | 105,316 | 46,818 | 44.5% |
| 2000 | 102,810 | 47,311 | 46.0% |
| 2001 | 97,395 | 46,996 | 48.3% |
| 2002 | 98,949 | 47,645 | 48.2% |
| 2003 | 98,018 | 49,255 | 50.3% |
| 2004 | 101,884 | 50,187 | 49.3% |
| 2005 | 99,613 | 51,272 | 51.5% |
| 2006 | 100,665 | 53,314 | 53.0% |
| 2007 | 97,007 | 54,325 | 56.0% |
| 2008 | 90,190 | 51,822 | 57.4% |
| 2009 | 78,902 | 50,036 | 63.4% |
