The recycling rate of paper and cardboard packaging in Italy has exceeded in 2020, 15 years in advance, the European target of 85% set for 2035, touching 87.3%. This is stated by the National Union of Recovery and Recycling Companies (Unirima) in the Report 2021. In the global context that has been affected by the pandemic crisis, the 600 recycling plants distributed in Italy have produced 6.8 million tons of waste paper.

The total collection of paper and cardboard in Italy, which takes place through domestic and industrial channels, is about 7 million tons, Unirima explains. Waste paper coming out of recovery plants rose to 6.77 million tons in 2020, of which 4.96 million tons were used in the domestic market and the remaining 1.81 million tons were exported.

Unirima represents about 90% of the companies in the sector - around 600 plants - in terms of volumes managed, recording an overall turnover of around 4 billion euros. In 2020, the recycling rate of cellulose packaging reached 87.35%, which is above the European average of 73.9% for the year. 

Paper and cardboard waste accounts for about 19% of total municipal separate collection and is estimated to increase by about 3% in 2021.