The theoretical maximum recycling rate of paper is 79%
A fibre can be recycled several times, yet not indefinitely, depending on the paper grade, therefore there is a continuous need to feed the inflow of recovered fibre with paper products made of virgin pulp. The share of non-collectable and non-recyclable paper is, for technical reasons, estimated to be 21% of the total paper and board consumption, such as libraries, archives, sanitary paper, etc… Consequently the theoretical maximum collection rate would be 79% instead of 100%. The more one approaches this threshold, the less benefit one can make from it (long transportation, no economies of scale, etc.). Many countries have already reached this threshold.