A new report has confirmed a surge in carton recycling access in US households over the last year. Despite the progress, the Carton Council, a US-based nonprofit, says correcting the misinformation around carton recycling is a priority for the organization.
Report: Carton recycling surges in US homes
According to a new report by the Carton Council, an increasing number of US households now have access to carton recycling solutions. Per the report, nearly 2.5 million households in the US gained the ability to recycle food and beverage cartons in 2025 alone.
At the moment, only 63% of all US households have access to carton recycling, underscoring a steady increase since official tracking began in 2009. Meanwhile, access to general recycling services in US homes sits at 86%, suggesting that cartons are compatible with existing collection systems.
Analysts at the Carton Council disclosed that the spike stems from a streak of “targeted improvements” aligned with existing capabilities. The report highlighted the use of targeted outreaches, expanded MRF partnerships, and curbside recycling programs across the US in 2025.
“This growth reflects direct collaboration with communities, recyclers, and policymakers to strengthen the recycling system,” said Jordan Fengel, Executive Director of the Carton Council.
Carton recycling has gathered significant steam over the last two decades, given its high-quality paper fiber yield. Recycled cartons are finding utility in tissue and paper product manufacturing, with over 1.2 million tonnes recycled in 2025.
Educating consumers remains a priority for the Carton Council
Amid the glowing numbers, the Carton Council disclosed that a significant number of Americans are misinformed about carton recycling. In an interview with Charity Journal, the organization noted that millions of Americans believed that cartons are not recyclable.
“A lot of informed consumers that are passionate about sustainability learned in the past that cartons weren’t recyclable, but today, that’s far from the truth,” said Brendon Holland, Communications Manager at Carton Council.
Right off the bat, the Carton Council launched a raft of initiatives to raise awareness. Barely 17 years since its launch, the organization has recorded an expansion of household collection access from 18% in 2009 to 63%.
Holland added that the nonprofit will double-down on educating consumers, urging them to “place cartons in with other recyclables.” The organization believes its work will support a fledging ecosystem as recyclers depend on a reliable supply of recovered cartons to remain in operation.
Aware of the lack of information, several organizations have rolled out grants to support environmental education in the US. Meanwhile, recycling startups are gathering traction as new models emerge to challenge decades-old sustainability practices.