The paper recycling rate in Europe reached 71.7% in 2013, according to the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC), Brussels, Belgium. The total amount of paper collected and recycled in the European paper sector remains stable at just over 57 million metric tons, despite decreasing paper consumption in Europe.

 

Recycling has increased by 45% (18 million metric tons) since 1998, the base year for the first voluntary commitment set in the European Declaration on Paper Recycling by the ERPC. The European paper recycling rate is starting to level out and keeping it at a high rate is becoming progressively more challenging. Not only are quantities changing but so are the different paper consumption patterns.

 

 

 

The continuing sharp decline in newspaper consumption will significantly affect overall paper recycling levels, as newspapers are traditionally one of the best recycled paper products along with corrugated boxes. Conversely, tissue and sanitary paper consumption is increasing but cannot be accepted for recycling due to hygiene reasons. Overall, 21% of paper consumption is not recyclable or collectable, ERPC notes.

 

The large majority of the 11 European countries currently still under a 60% recycling rate have reported an improved performance. In parallel, 13 European countries have already exceeded the targeted 70% recycling rate. Paper fiber is now recycled an average of 3.5 times in Europe, far exceeding the world-wide average of 2.4 times.

 

"Making recycling easy and simple year after year requires a huge effort by the paper value chain, and we are pleased to report the positive results," said ERPC chairwoman Beatrice Klose. "Despite challenging circumstances, paper recycling has continued to perform consistently well," she concludes.

 

ERPC was set up as an industry self-initiative in November 2000 to monitor progress towards meeting the paper recycling targets set out in the 2000 European Declaration on Paper Recycling. Since then, the commitments in the declaration are renewed every five years. In 2011, the ERPC committed itself to meeting and maintaining both a voluntary recycling rate target of 70% in the EU-27 plus Switzerland and Norway by 2015 as well as qualitative targets in areas such as waste prevention, eco-design, and research and development.

 

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