Carton manufacturers are reporting more Americans have access to carton recycling.

According to a press release from the Carton Council, approximately 62.4 million households in the U.S. now have access to carton recycling. That total brings the access rate for the continental U.S. to 53 percent.

“It is clear by our continued progress that carton recycling is becoming more mainstream across the country,” said Jason Pelz, the group’s vice president of recycling projects. “Consumers expect to be able to recycle them.”

The group says since 2009, carton recycling access has grown 194 percent. In July 2013, Carton Council reported an access rate of 44 percent.

According to Pelz, most households have gained access to carton recycling via curbside pickup.

“About 10 to 15 percent of households with carton recycling access have drop-off only access,” Pelz said. “About 50 to 55 percent have curbside-only access and then 30 to 35 percent have access to both.”

In January, an additional 500,000 U.S. households gained access to carton recycling – most of those came in Central Pennsylvania through a Carton Council equipment grant, Pelz said.