Recycled Materials Association

Graphic Packaging builds Waco mill for used-cup fibre as US cup recycling access reaches 20%

The Foodservice Packaging Institute reports that 20 percent of US residents now have access to paper cup recycling, up from 5 percent in 2017, even as the number of mills accepting paper cups has fallen from 40 to 35. Graphic Packaging International has built a new mill in Waco, Texas, designed to process fibre recovered from used paper cups. The Recycled Materials Association has added paper cups to its materials specification list without mandating acceptance.

Why this mattersA mill base down from 40 to 35 outlets undercuts fibre-cup recyclability claims even as household collection access quadruples from the 2017 level.

• FPI says 20 percent of US residents now have access to paper cup recycling, up from 5 percent in 2017.
• The number of mills accepting paper cups has fallen from 40 to 35.
• Graphic Packaging International has built a new mill in Waco, Texas, designed to process fibre from used paper cups.
• The Recycled Materials Association has added paper cups to its materials specification list, without mandating acceptance.
• FPI's community partnership programme has engaged more than 30 communities since launch.

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