{
  "dataset": "Cardboard Recycling Statistics — U.S. Evidence Ledger, Wisconsin MRF Analysis and Brown County Record",
  "compiled_by": "Green Bay Dock Door Repair Research",
  "date_compiled": "2026-09-15",
  "last_verified": "2026-09-15",
  "version": "2026-09-15-audited",
  "canonical_url": "https://greenbaydockdoorrepair.com/research/cardboard-recycling-statistics/",
  "methodology": "Compilation of inspected primary publications; reproducible Wisconsin composition and change calculations and BLS/FRED price-index endpoint changes. Not a new national survey. Uninspected FBA report values and unverified historical or independent rates are excluded.",
  "unit_policy": "EPA uses U.S. short tons; AF&PA, DNR and Brown County quantities retain their source label of tons. PPI is an index, not dollars per ton. No cross-source tonnage conversion is assumed.",
  "missing_value_policy": "JSON null and blank numeric CSV cells mean unavailable or inapplicable, never zero. Qualitative values retain their source qualifier.",
  "tables": {
    "national_rate_ledger": [
      {
        "publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "rate_name": "Corrugated-box recycling rate",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "rate_published": "96.5%",
        "numerator": "Estimated corrugated boxes recycled",
        "denominator": "Estimated corrugated boxes generated",
        "method_type": "EPA materials-flow estimate",
        "date_published": "2020-12",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6 / PDF p. 10; Table 25, printed p. 39 / PDF p. 43",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "rate_name": "Cardboard recycling rate",
        "data_year": 2023,
        "rate_published": "71–76%",
        "numerator": "Cardboard recycled under AF&PA adjusted recovery calculation",
        "denominator": "Cardboard available for recovery",
        "method_type": "AF&PA current methodology; published range, not a midpoint",
        "date_published": "2024-11-14",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "How Much Paper Was Recycled in 2023?",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2024/how-much-paper-was-recycled-2023",
        "source_publication_date": "2024-11-14",
        "source_locator": "2023 cardboard rate",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "rate_name": "Cardboard recycling rate",
        "data_year": 2024,
        "rate_published": "69–74%",
        "numerator": "Cardboard recycled under AF&PA adjusted recovery calculation",
        "denominator": "Cardboard available for recovery",
        "method_type": "AF&PA current methodology; published range, not a midpoint",
        "date_published": "2025-08-12",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "Paper Industry Announces 2024 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2025/paper-industry-announces-2024-us-paper-recycling-rates",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-08-12",
        "source_locator": "2024 rates, mill consumption and trade; related cardboard summary labels its 2024 tonnage",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "rate_name": "Cardboard recycling rate",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "rate_published": "70–75%",
        "numerator": "Cardboard recycled under AF&PA adjusted recovery calculation",
        "denominator": "Cardboard available for recovery",
        "method_type": "AF&PA current methodology; published range, not a midpoint",
        "date_published": "2026-08-28",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "Paper Industry Announces 2025 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/paper-industry-announces-2025-us-paper-recycling-rates",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-08-28",
        "source_locator": "2025 national rates and mill consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ],
    "national_tonnage_and_production": [
      {
        "measure": "Cardboard recycled",
        "value": 33000000,
        "unit": "tons",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "more than",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "Lower-bound wording retained; not an exact total or short-ton conversion.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "How Much Cardboard Is Recycled?",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/how-much-cardboard-recycled",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-08-31",
        "source_locator": "2025 cardboard rate and tonnage",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Paper recycled",
        "value": 45000000,
        "unit": "tons",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "about",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "All paper; broader than cardboard.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "Paper Industry Announces 2025 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/paper-industry-announces-2025-us-paper-recycling-rates",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-08-28",
        "source_locator": "2025 national rates and mill consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Paper and paperboard production",
        "value": 66300000,
        "unit": "tons",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "Production, not post-use recovery; 3.7% decrease from 2024.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "AF&PA Releases 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/afpa-releases-66th-annual-paper-industry-capacity-and-fiber-consumption-survey",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-05-29",
        "source_locator": "2025 production, capacity, operating rate and recovered-fiber consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Containerboard production",
        "value": 36100000,
        "unit": "tons",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "4.4% decrease from 2024.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "AF&PA Releases 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/afpa-releases-66th-annual-paper-industry-capacity-and-fiber-consumption-survey",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-05-29",
        "source_locator": "2025 production, capacity, operating rate and recovered-fiber consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Containerboard capacity change",
        "value": -5.1,
        "unit": "percent year-over-year",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "AF&PA Releases 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/afpa-releases-66th-annual-paper-industry-capacity-and-fiber-consumption-survey",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-05-29",
        "source_locator": "2025 production, capacity, operating rate and recovered-fiber consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Containerboard operating rate",
        "value": 91.9,
        "unit": "percent",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "AF&PA Releases 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/afpa-releases-66th-annual-paper-industry-capacity-and-fiber-consumption-survey",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-05-29",
        "source_locator": "2025 production, capacity, operating rate and recovered-fiber consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Recycled paper consumed by U.S. mills",
        "value": 31400000,
        "unit": "tons",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "1.3 million tons less than 2024; all recycled paper, not cardboard alone.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "Paper Industry Announces 2025 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/paper-industry-announces-2025-us-paper-recycling-rates",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-08-28",
        "source_locator": "2025 national rates and mill consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Recovered-fiber consumption change",
        "value": -4.0,
        "unit": "percent year-over-year",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "AF&PA Releases 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/afpa-releases-66th-annual-paper-industry-capacity-and-fiber-consumption-survey",
        "source_publication_date": "2026-05-29",
        "source_locator": "2025 production, capacity, operating rate and recovered-fiber consumption",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Share of recycled paper used for containerboard",
        "value": null,
        "unit": "qualitative share",
        "data_year": 2025,
        "kind": "nearly half",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "No exact midpoint assigned.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "Paper & Cardboard Recycling Facts",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/priorities/recycling",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "2025 recycling figures and destination overview",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Recycled paper consumed by U.S. mills",
        "value": 32700000,
        "unit": "tons",
        "data_year": 2024,
        "kind": "reported",
        "formula": null,
        "scope_note": "All recycled paper, not cardboard alone.",
        "source_publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
        "source_title": "Paper Industry Announces 2024 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
        "source_url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2025/paper-industry-announces-2024-us-paper-recycling-rates",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-08-12",
        "source_locator": "2024 rates, mill consumption and trade; related cardboard summary labels its 2024 tonnage",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ],
    "epa_material_balance": [
      {
        "measure": "Corrugated boxes generated",
        "value": 33260000,
        "unit": "U.S. short tons",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Corrugated boxes recycled",
        "value": 32090000,
        "unit": "U.S. short tons",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Corrugated-box recycling rate",
        "value": 96.5,
        "unit": "percent of estimated generation",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Combusted with energy recovery",
        "value": 230000,
        "unit": "U.S. short tons",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Landfilled",
        "value": 940000,
        "unit": "U.S. short tons",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Corrugated share of all MSW generated",
        "value": 11.4,
        "unit": "percent of MSW generation",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/containers-and-packaging-product-specific",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "EPA containers and packaging web page",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "Corrugated-box recycling rate",
        "value": 67.3,
        "unit": "percent of estimated generation",
        "data_year": 2000,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 25, printed p. 39",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "measure": "All paper and paperboard recycling rate",
        "value": 68.2,
        "unit": "percent of estimated generation",
        "data_year": 2018,
        "kind": "EPA published estimate",
        "source_publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
        "source_title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
        "source_url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2020-12",
        "source_locator": "Table 5, printed p. 6",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ],
    "measurement_compatibility": [
      {
        "measurement": "AF&PA cardboard rate",
        "describes": "National recycling estimate relative to cardboard available for recovery",
        "does_not_establish": "An individual box outcome or a continuous series with EPA",
        "source_urls": [
          "https://www.afandpa.org/afpa-recycling-rate-methodology"
        ]
      },
      {
        "measurement": "EPA corrugated-box rate",
        "describes": "Historical recycling relative to estimated generation",
        "does_not_establish": "A current rate or an AF&PA trend baseline",
        "source_urls": [
          "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
          "https://www.afandpa.org/afpa-recycling-rate-methodology"
        ]
      },
      {
        "measurement": "Independent model without verified underlying publication",
        "describes": "A separate producer estimate requiring its own methods and reference year",
        "does_not_establish": "A verified numerical rate in this edition",
        "source_urls": [
          "https://www.circventures.com/afreshlookatoccrecycling"
        ]
      },
      {
        "measurement": "Wisconsin MRF cardboard share",
        "describes": "Composition of reported shipments to end markets",
        "does_not_establish": "A statewide cardboard recovery or capture rate",
        "source_urls": [
          "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
          "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/Studies.html"
        ]
      },
      {
        "measurement": "Brown County transfer-station tonnage",
        "describes": "All-material single-stream throughput on a reported route",
        "does_not_establish": "County cardboard-only recovery",
        "source_urls": [
          "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "definitions": [
      {
        "term": "Corrugated",
        "definition": "Board made from fluted medium bonded to linerboard. Single-wall board has one fluted layer between two flat liners; other constructions exist.",
        "source_url": "https://www.fibrebox.org/what-is-corrugated",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "term": "Paperboard / boxboard",
        "definition": "Paperboard is a broader material family, not a synonym for noncorrugated cartons. Boxboard is used for folding or set-up cartons such as cereal and shoe boxes.",
        "source_url": "https://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA/Title_22aSubtitle_22a-241b_HTML/",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "term": "OCC",
        "definition": "Old corrugated containers or old corrugated cardboard: recovered corrugated material. The exact material boundary follows the dataset or commodity specification.",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "term": "Containerboard",
        "definition": "Linerboard and corrugating medium: the paper components used to make corrugated board.",
        "source_url": "https://www.fibrebox.org/what-is-corrugated",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "term": "Basis weight",
        "definition": "Mass per unit area. A pounds-per-thousand-square-feet value can convert a matching board area to estimated pounds; it does not supply a recycling denominator.",
        "source_url": "https://www.fibrebox.org/what-is-corrugated",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "term": "Materials recovery facility (MRF)",
        "definition": "A facility that processes recovered materials. Wisconsin’s end-market series measures reported material shipments out, not everything placed in household bins.",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/MRF.html",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ],
    "wisconsin_mrf_materials": [
      {
        "data_year": 2015,
        "occ_tons": 234108,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 304613,
        "aluminum_tons": 8316,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 23436,
        "glass_tons": 126301,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 41486,
        "total_tons": 738262,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 31.7,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 43.5,
        "occ_yoy_pct": null,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": -2,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2016,
        "occ_tons": 223964,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 286453,
        "aluminum_tons": 10492,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 26678,
        "glass_tons": 127463,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 40454,
        "total_tons": 715504,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 31.3,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 43.9,
        "occ_yoy_pct": -4.3,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 0,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2017,
        "occ_tons": 218755,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 303155,
        "aluminum_tons": 7622,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 16851,
        "glass_tons": 127940,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 43830,
        "total_tons": 718154,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 30.5,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 41.9,
        "occ_yoy_pct": -2.3,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": -1,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2018,
        "occ_tons": 251984,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 303713,
        "aluminum_tons": 8702,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 18840,
        "glass_tons": 123958,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 52791,
        "total_tons": 759988,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 33.2,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 45.3,
        "occ_yoy_pct": 15.2,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 0,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2019,
        "occ_tons": 306621,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 271346,
        "aluminum_tons": 8150,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 16348,
        "glass_tons": 122922,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 43448,
        "total_tons": 768835,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 39.9,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 53.1,
        "occ_yoy_pct": 21.7,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 0,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2020,
        "occ_tons": 307905,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 252363,
        "aluminum_tons": 10845,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 17368,
        "glass_tons": 121432,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 44225,
        "total_tons": 754137,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 40.8,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 55.0,
        "occ_yoy_pct": 0.4,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 1,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2021,
        "occ_tons": 329095,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 217343,
        "aluminum_tons": 11545,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 16952,
        "glass_tons": 116103,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 43256,
        "total_tons": 734293,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 44.8,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 60.2,
        "occ_yoy_pct": 6.9,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 1,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2022,
        "occ_tons": 322492,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 215811,
        "aluminum_tons": 12353,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 17931,
        "glass_tons": 105282,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 47647,
        "total_tons": 721515,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 44.7,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 59.9,
        "occ_yoy_pct": -2.0,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 1,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2023,
        "occ_tons": 332309,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 194535,
        "aluminum_tons": 14904,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 19451,
        "glass_tons": 103947,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 44735,
        "total_tons": 709881,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 46.8,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 63.1,
        "occ_yoy_pct": 3.0,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 0,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2024,
        "occ_tons": 332954,
        "all_other_paper_tons": 167542,
        "aluminum_tons": 14224,
        "steel_bimetal_tons": 24254,
        "glass_tons": 105125,
        "plastic_1_7_tons": 43463,
        "total_tons": 687561,
        "occ_share_of_total_pct": 48.4,
        "occ_share_of_paper_fiber_pct": 66.5,
        "occ_yoy_pct": 0.2,
        "component_sum_minus_published_total_tons": 1,
        "metric": "Reported material shipments to end markets; not a generation-based recycling rate",
        "coverage": "Wisconsin self-certified reporting MRFs; residential and commercial material; constant reporting cohort not established",
        "unit": "tons, as reported by DNR",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ],
    "wisconsin_decade_changes": [
      {
        "material": "Old corrugated cardboard",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 234108,
        "end_tons": 332954,
        "change_tons": 98846,
        "change_pct": 42.2,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "All other paper",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 304613,
        "end_tons": 167542,
        "change_tons": -137071,
        "change_pct": -45.0,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "Aluminum containers",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 8316,
        "end_tons": 14224,
        "change_tons": 5908,
        "change_pct": 71.0,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "Steel / bimetal containers",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 23436,
        "end_tons": 24254,
        "change_tons": 818,
        "change_pct": 3.5,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "Glass containers",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 126301,
        "end_tons": 105125,
        "change_tons": -21176,
        "change_pct": -16.8,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "Plastic containers #1–7",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 41486,
        "end_tons": 43463,
        "change_tons": 1977,
        "change_pct": 4.8,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "Everything except corrugated",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 504154,
        "end_tons": 354607,
        "change_tons": -149547,
        "change_pct": -29.7,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Uses published total minus OCC",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      },
      {
        "material": "All materials",
        "start_year": 2015,
        "end_year": 2024,
        "start_tons": 738262,
        "end_tons": 687561,
        "change_tons": -50701,
        "change_pct": -6.9,
        "formula": "(end_tons - start_tons) / start_tons * 100",
        "aggregation_note": "Published source inputs",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": "2025-12",
        "source_locator": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "claim_kind": "Derived calculation"
      }
    ],
    "brown_county_transfer_station": [
      {
        "data_year": 2021,
        "single_stream_recyclables_tons": 35033,
        "material_scope": "All-material single-stream transfer-station throughput",
        "cardboard_only_tons": null,
        "cardboard_rate_pct": null,
        "missing_reason": "The cited recycling section has no cardboard-only tonnage or cardboard-generation denominator.",
        "routing_note": "Report says WM and GFL MRFs opened in 2024 and contributed to lower commercial material reaching the BOW MRF; not a decomposition of the full 2021–2025 change.",
        "source_discrepancy_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department",
        "source_title": "2025 Annual Report",
        "source_url": "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "2025 report; printed pp. 1–2 and 4–5 / PDF pp. 2–3 and 5–6; recycling chart visually checked",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2022,
        "single_stream_recyclables_tons": 32746,
        "material_scope": "All-material single-stream transfer-station throughput",
        "cardboard_only_tons": null,
        "cardboard_rate_pct": null,
        "missing_reason": "The cited recycling section has no cardboard-only tonnage or cardboard-generation denominator.",
        "routing_note": "Report says WM and GFL MRFs opened in 2024 and contributed to lower commercial material reaching the BOW MRF; not a decomposition of the full 2021–2025 change.",
        "source_discrepancy_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department",
        "source_title": "2025 Annual Report",
        "source_url": "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "2025 report; printed pp. 1–2 and 4–5 / PDF pp. 2–3 and 5–6; recycling chart visually checked",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2023,
        "single_stream_recyclables_tons": 31657,
        "material_scope": "All-material single-stream transfer-station throughput",
        "cardboard_only_tons": null,
        "cardboard_rate_pct": null,
        "missing_reason": "The cited recycling section has no cardboard-only tonnage or cardboard-generation denominator.",
        "routing_note": "Report says WM and GFL MRFs opened in 2024 and contributed to lower commercial material reaching the BOW MRF; not a decomposition of the full 2021–2025 change.",
        "source_discrepancy_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department",
        "source_title": "2025 Annual Report",
        "source_url": "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "2025 report; printed pp. 1–2 and 4–5 / PDF pp. 2–3 and 5–6; recycling chart visually checked",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2024,
        "single_stream_recyclables_tons": 29030,
        "material_scope": "All-material single-stream transfer-station throughput",
        "cardboard_only_tons": null,
        "cardboard_rate_pct": null,
        "missing_reason": "The cited recycling section has no cardboard-only tonnage or cardboard-generation denominator.",
        "routing_note": "Report says WM and GFL MRFs opened in 2024 and contributed to lower commercial material reaching the BOW MRF; not a decomposition of the full 2021–2025 change.",
        "source_discrepancy_note": "",
        "source_publisher": "Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department",
        "source_title": "2025 Annual Report",
        "source_url": "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "2025 report; printed pp. 1–2 and 4–5 / PDF pp. 2–3 and 5–6; recycling chart visually checked",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "data_year": 2025,
        "single_stream_recyclables_tons": 24697,
        "material_scope": "All-material single-stream transfer-station throughput",
        "cardboard_only_tons": null,
        "cardboard_rate_pct": null,
        "missing_reason": "The cited recycling section has no cardboard-only tonnage or cardboard-generation denominator.",
        "routing_note": "Report says WM and GFL MRFs opened in 2024 and contributed to lower commercial material reaching the BOW MRF; not a decomposition of the full 2021–2025 change.",
        "source_discrepancy_note": "2025 detailed recycling text and chart: 24,697; director introduction: 24,500. Detailed record retained; no averaging.",
        "source_publisher": "Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department",
        "source_title": "2025 Annual Report",
        "source_url": "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "2025 report; printed pp. 1–2 and 4–5 / PDF pp. 2–3 and 5–6; recycling chart visually checked",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ],
    "occ_price_index": [
      {
        "month": "2025-10",
        "index_value": 200.686,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2025-11",
        "index_value": 188.425,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2025-12",
        "index_value": 196.088,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-01",
        "index_value": 197.481,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-02",
        "index_value": 206.954,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-03",
        "index_value": 208.348,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-04",
        "index_value": 219.214,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-05",
        "index_value": 232.867,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-06",
        "index_value": 241.197,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-07",
        "index_value": 242.294,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      },
      {
        "month": "2026-08",
        "index_value": 254.991,
        "series_id": "WPU091203",
        "series_name": "Producer Price Index by Commodity: Pulp, Paper, and Allied Products: Corrugated Recyclable Paper",
        "index_base": "1982=100",
        "seasonal_adjustment": "Not Seasonally Adjusted",
        "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED",
        "source_url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
        "source_updated": "2026-09-10 11:54 AM CDT",
        "date_retrieved": "2026-09-15",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15",
        "verification_tier": "★"
      }
    ],
    "selected_state_disposal_rules": [
      {
        "state": "Wisconsin",
        "scope": "Corrugated cardboard and other containerboard are generally banned from landfill and incinerator disposal at residential and nonresidential locations statewide.",
        "rule_reference": "Wisconsin DNR disposal-ban and responsible-unit guidance",
        "exceptions": "DNR describes contamination, emergencies, approved beneficial reuse and other exceptions; paper can go to energy recovery within La Crosse and Barron waste-to-energy service areas, subject to local requirements.",
        "source_publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "What to Recycle in Wisconsin",
        "source_url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/Banned.html",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "Banned materials; exceptions; La Crosse and Barron waste-to-energy areas",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "state": "Massachusetts",
        "scope": "Recyclable paper, cardboard and paperboard are banned from disposal or transfer for disposal in Massachusetts; generators and haulers have compliance responsibilities.",
        "rule_reference": "310 CMR 19.017, identified in the MassDEP guide",
        "exceptions": "Material definitions and operational exceptions require the full regulation; not an exemption determination for an individual load.",
        "source_publisher": "Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection",
        "source_title": "MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans",
        "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-waste-disposal-bans",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "Issuer guidance: recyclable paper/cardboard/paperboard; 310 CMR 19.017",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "state": "Connecticut",
        "scope": "Cardboard is a mandatory recyclable; the state definition covers corrugated and similar kraft material with minimum contamination.",
        "rule_reference": "R.C.S.A. 22a-241b-2(a)(1)(B); definition at 22a-241b-1(2)",
        "exceptions": "The material definition and agency guidance determine applicability; not a claim covering every contaminated paper product.",
        "source_publisher": "Connecticut eRegulations System",
        "source_title": "Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies: Designated Recycling",
        "source_url": "https://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA/Title_22aSubtitle_22a-241b_HTML/",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "Sections 22a-241b-1(1)–(2) and 22a-241b-2(a)(1)(B)",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      },
      {
        "state": "Vermont",
        "scope": "Mandated recyclables, including paper and cardboard, have been banned from disposal since July 1, 2015.",
        "rule_reference": "Universal Recycling Law; Vermont Agency of Natural Resources guidance",
        "exceptions": "Selected state-level summary, not a complete operational compliance guide.",
        "source_publisher": "Vermont Agency of Natural Resources",
        "source_title": "Recycle and Compost",
        "source_url": "https://anr.vermont.gov/special-topics/recycle-and-compost",
        "source_publication_date": null,
        "source_locator": "Universal Recycling Law: paper/cardboard disposal ban effective 2015-07-01",
        "verification_tier": "★",
        "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
      }
    ]
  },
  "derived_findings": {
    "wisconsin_occ_tonnage_change_pct_2015_2024": 42.2,
    "wisconsin_occ_tonnage_change_tons_2015_2024": 98846,
    "wisconsin_occ_output_share_change_percentage_points": 16.7,
    "wisconsin_non_occ_combined_change_pct": -29.7,
    "ppi_change_pct_november_2025_august_2026": 35.3,
    "ppi_change_pct_january_2026_august_2026": 29.1
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "source_id": "afpa2025",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "Paper Industry Announces 2025 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/paper-industry-announces-2025-us-paper-recycling-rates",
      "publication_date": "2026-08-28",
      "locator_and_scope": "2025 national rates and mill consumption",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "afpafacts",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "Paper & Cardboard Recycling Facts",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/priorities/recycling",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "2025 recycling figures and destination overview",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "method",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "AF&PA Recycling Rate Methodology",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/afpa-recycling-rate-methodology",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Four methodology changes, recovery denominator, and estimated packaging trade",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "cardboard",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "How Much Cardboard Is Recycled?",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/how-much-cardboard-recycled",
      "publication_date": "2026-08-31",
      "locator_and_scope": "2025 cardboard rate and tonnage",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "afpa2024",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "Paper Industry Announces 2024 U.S. Paper Recycling Rates",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2025/paper-industry-announces-2024-us-paper-recycling-rates",
      "publication_date": "2025-08-12",
      "locator_and_scope": "2024 rates, mill consumption and trade; related cardboard summary labels its 2024 tonnage",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "afpa2023",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "How Much Paper Was Recycled in 2023?",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2024/how-much-paper-was-recycled-2023",
      "publication_date": "2024-11-14",
      "locator_and_scope": "2023 cardboard rate",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "production",
      "publisher": "American Forest & Paper Association",
      "title": "AF&PA Releases 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey",
      "url": "https://www.afandpa.org/news/2026/afpa-releases-66th-annual-paper-industry-capacity-and-fiber-consumption-survey",
      "publication_date": "2026-05-29",
      "locator_and_scope": "2025 production, capacity, operating rate and recovered-fiber consumption",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "epa",
      "publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
      "title": "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures",
      "url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_tables_and_figures_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf",
      "publication_date": "2020-12",
      "locator_and_scope": "Table 5, printed p. 6 / PDF p. 10; Table 25, printed p. 39 / PDF p. 43",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "epapack",
      "publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
      "title": "Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data",
      "url": "https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/containers-and-packaging-product-specific",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "2018 corrugated generation, MSW share and product-category description",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "epapaper",
      "publisher": "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency",
      "title": "Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data",
      "url": "https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/paper-and-paperboard-material-specific-data",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Historical 2018 paper and corrugated figures",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "fbalisting",
      "publisher": "Fibre Box Association",
      "title": "2024 Fibre Box Association Annual Report — publisher catalog entry",
      "url": "https://store.fibrebox.org/collections/store-products/products/2024-fibre-box-association-annual-report",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Report availability and subject coverage only; report statistics not independently inspected",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "fbaterms",
      "publisher": "Fibre Box Association",
      "title": "What Is Corrugated?",
      "url": "https://www.fibrebox.org/what-is-corrugated",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Liner, medium, single-face and single-wall definitions",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "fred",
      "publisher": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; distributed by Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis",
      "title": "Producer Price Index: Corrugated Recyclable Paper, WPU091203",
      "url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WPU091203",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Monthly, not seasonally adjusted, index 1982=100; updated 2026-09-10",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "freddata",
      "publisher": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; distributed by Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis",
      "title": "WPU091203 — full observation table",
      "url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/WPU091203",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "October 2025–August 2026 observations as retrieved 2026-09-15",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wi",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
      "title": "Wisconsin Recyclable Materials Sent to End Markets from Self-Certified Materials Recovery Facilities, by Year (in tons)",
      "url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Recycling/MRFendmarketchart.pdf",
      "publication_date": "2025-12",
      "locator_and_scope": "One-page material table, 2015–2024",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wistudies",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
      "title": "Recycling Studies and Reports",
      "url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/Studies.html",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Coverage of responsible-unit collection and MRF output datasets",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wimrf",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
      "title": "Material Recovery Facilities",
      "url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/MRF.html",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "MRF reporting and self-certification",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wiru",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
      "title": "Responsible Unit Recycling Programs",
      "url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/RU.html",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Residential and nonresidential program scope",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wiban",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources",
      "title": "What to Recycle in Wisconsin",
      "url": "https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/Banned.html",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Banned materials; exceptions; La Crosse and Barron waste-to-energy areas",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "brown",
      "publisher": "Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department",
      "title": "2025 Annual Report",
      "url": "https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/_files/ugd/a6f6df_fe83e8cc16ba49d99236d1bc04da8f25.pdf",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "2025 report; printed pp. 1–2 and 4–5 / PDF pp. 2–3 and 5–6; recycling chart visually checked",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wpf",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Policy Forum",
      "title": "Wisconsin Recycling Changes",
      "url": "https://wispolicyforum.org/research/wisconsin-recycling-changes/",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Original analysis of DNR responsible-unit data, 2013–2022; underlying 2013 returns not reprocessed here",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "ma",
      "publisher": "Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection",
      "title": "MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans",
      "url": "https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-waste-disposal-bans",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Issuer guidance: recyclable paper/cardboard/paperboard; 310 CMR 19.017",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "ct",
      "publisher": "Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection",
      "title": "Corrugated Cardboard Recycling",
      "url": "https://portal.ct.gov/deep/reduce-reuse-recycle/corrugated-cardboard",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Mandatory recycling and source separation",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "ctcode",
      "publisher": "Connecticut eRegulations System",
      "title": "Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies: Designated Recycling",
      "url": "https://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA/Title_22aSubtitle_22a-241b_HTML/",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Sections 22a-241b-1(1)–(2) and 22a-241b-2(a)(1)(B)",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "vt",
      "publisher": "Vermont Agency of Natural Resources",
      "title": "Recycle and Compost",
      "url": "https://anr.vermont.gov/special-topics/recycle-and-compost",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Universal Recycling Law: paper/cardboard disposal ban effective 2015-07-01",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "gbp",
      "publisher": "Green Bay Packaging",
      "title": "Green Bay Mill",
      "url": "https://gbp.com/locations/green-bay-mill/",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Recycled-fiber inputs and Green Bay site",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "gbpstart",
      "publisher": "Green Bay Packaging",
      "title": "Green Bay Packaging New Recycled Paper Mill Begins Production",
      "url": "https://gbp.com/newsroom/green-bay-packaging-new-recycled-paper-mill-begins-production/",
      "publication_date": "2021-03-19",
      "locator_and_scope": "March 11, 2021 first reel and more than $500 million investment",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "voith",
      "publisher": "Voith",
      "title": "Green Bay Packaging PM 4",
      "url": "https://www.voith.com/corp-en/industry-solutions/papermaking/green-bay-pm4.html",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Machine design capacity: 685,000 short tons of testliner per year; 2021 startup",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "wedc",
      "publisher": "Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation",
      "title": "Green Bay Packaging — Success Story",
      "url": "https://wedc.org/success-in-wisconsin/success-stories/green-bay-packaging/",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "2021 mill opening, more than 30-year interval, and investment described as more than $600 million",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "nist",
      "publisher": "National Institute of Standards and Technology",
      "title": "Approximate Conversions from U.S. Customary Measures to Metric",
      "url": "https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/unit-conversion/approximate-conversions-us-customary-measures-metric",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Short ton = 2,000 pounds; approximate tonne conversion",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "nistmetric",
      "publisher": "National Institute of Standards and Technology",
      "title": "Approximate Conversions from Metric to U.S. Customary Measures",
      "url": "https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/unit-conversion/approximate-conversions-metric-us-customary-measures",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Metric tonne = 1,000 kilograms",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "cv",
      "publisher": "Circular Ventures",
      "title": "A Fresh Look at OCC Recycling",
      "url": "https://www.circventures.com/afreshlookatoccrecycling",
      "publication_date": null,
      "locator_and_scope": "Producer access page only; numerical presentation not independently inspected",
      "date_verified": "2026-09-15"
    }
  ],
  "exclusions": [
    {
      "item": "FBA 2024 shipments, shipment value, basis weight, plant count and board-type share",
      "reason": "Publisher catalog was inspected, but the numerical annual report was not independently inspectable; none of its draft values is published."
    },
    {
      "item": "Recycled-cardboard versus shipped-board tonnage ratio and inferred packaging-import gap",
      "reason": "FBA inputs not independently verified; unmatched production and recovery totals do not identify imported packaging in any event."
    },
    {
      "item": "AF&PA prior-method and restated 2022 rates; Bloomberg Intelligence/Circular Ventures numerical estimates",
      "reason": "Matching original numerical publication and vintage not directly verified. Secondary reporting is not substituted."
    }
  ]
}