WASHINGTON, DC – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced today the paper industry’s commitment to achieving a 55% recovered paper goal by the year 2012. This announcement represents an increase from the current goal of 50% set in 1995. Given the increase in domestic consumption of paper and paperboard, and the continued growth in the export of recovered fiber, the industry is expected to meet its current goal of 50% in 2003. “Thanks to the continued commitment to recycling by Americans and our member companies, paper recycling is at an all time high. Our industry is now positioned to meet the challenge of an even higher recovery goal,” says W. Henson Moore, President and CEO of AF&PA. “Ongoing education of the American public on paper recycling issues by AF&PA and its members will enable the industry to recover more high quality fiber for use in making new paper products.”