There are two aspects to the paper recycling industry in the UK - domestic mills use a lot of recovered paper and large amounts of recovered paper are exported.

UK mills use recovered paper - or waste paper as it is commonly known - as their feedstock largely because the mills here no longer make much use of the limited wood available from British forests. The second feature of the paper sector is that very large amounts of the material collected in the UK - from used newspapers to old KLS (used cardboard) is exported overseas, especially to the continent of Europe, China and India. 

In 2004 the UK manufactured 6.24 million tonnes of paper, including 1.8 million tonnes of corrugated material. During 2004, 4.6 million tonnes of recovered paper were delivered to UK mills, while 2,587 tonnes were exported. 

Until recently the UK had a fairly low paper collection rate relative to the amount used. At the end of 2004 it stood at 56.9% compared to an average of 57.3% in Europe. However at 74.1%, the UK has one of the highest recovered paper utilisation rates (the amount of recovered paper used, in relation to the amount produced). In Europe the average utilisation rate is 47%. Domestic mill capacity has reduced over the past few years with relatively little new investment although the Shotton mill has been converted to 100% recycled newsprint production  and Smith Anderson has started carton recycling  in Scotland.

Within the letsrecycle.com paper section we provide price indicators plus further technical information. The prices shown are for what UK mills are likely to pay ex works for certain grades of material and for the export market. The price paid by recovered paper merchants and mills will be influenced by a number of factors including volumes, levels of contamination, regional location and general demand. 

More information about paper recycling is available from the two main organisations for the UK. One is the Confederation of Paper Industries, based in Swindon, which represents paper mills as well as recovered paper merchants and other sectors. The other organisation is the Independent Waste Paper Processors Association , based in Daventry, which  primarily represents independent recovered paper businesses as well as having some larger firms as members.