A Major Milestone for Paper Cup Recycling in the U.S.

Pulp Paper News (08/06/25)

The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) has, for the first time, added paper cups to its Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Specifications for allowable paper items in residential single- and dual-stream recycling. The move is seen as a major milestone toward increasing paper cup recovery and recycling in the U.S., following years of collaboration among industry groups, consumer brands, and sustainable packaging companies. Graphic Packaging International, the nation’s largest paper cup producer, worked with partners including the Paper Cup Alliance, Foodservice Packaging Institute, and American Forest & Paper Association to advance the change. ReMA’s specifications influence waste collectors, MRFs, and end-market development, making the update a significant step for industry sustainability goals.

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