MEMPHIS, Tenn.--Nov. 7, 2001--Weyerhaeuser Company, a leading forest products and paper company, has been awarded the prestigious "Business Recycler of the Year'' honor for 2001 by the Tennessee Recycling Coalition. This award is given annually to the company that demonstrates a strong commitment to waste prevention and recycling. Weyerhaeuser was nominated for the award by Federal Express. During the past five years, Weyerhaeuser worked with the Memphis-based global shipping company to handle recycled material in 48 different locations, including its new world headquarters and technical centers. Federal Express' facilities span more than one million square feet of office space. "Weyerhaeuser has gone to great lengths to help us efficiently recycle materials that can be reused for valuable products like our shipping boxes, company stationary and company forms,'' said Karen Birkinstock, senior environmental specialist for Federal Express. "Recycling is important to Federal Express because we care about our environment. Weyerhaeuser has helped us sort through the issues and put together an effective recycling program which helps the environment and saves Federal Express money too.'' "We are honored to receive this recognition,'' said Mark Starnes, vice president of Weyerhaeuser's recycling business unit. "Our company is the nation's third-largest paper recycler and the largest user of recycled materials in our paper and packaging products. More than 57 percent of the content of Weyerhaeuser containerboard products comes from recycled materials. In 2000, we recycled more than 4.4 million tons of paper. That's enough to fill a freight train that stretches from Memphis to New York City.'' While these numbers are significant, Starnes said Americans could still do better. "As a nation, we consume 103 million tons of paper each year. Nearly half of our garbage is paper. We can save valuable landfill space if people take the time to recycle materials properly. We applaud Federal Express for their efforts.'' Weyerhaeuser has been an active recycler since 1974, and employs 24 people in its recycling operations in Tennessee. The company's recycling business is part of its pulp, paper and packaging operations, which employ more than 19,000 people across North America.