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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                   REPORT AND CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) of Rock-Tenn Company of our report dated October 25, 2000 included in the
2000 Annual Report to Shareholders of Rock-Tenn Company.

     Our audits also include the financial statement schedule of Rock-Tenn
Company listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

     We also consent (a) to the incorporation by reference in (i) the
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-77237) which pertains to the Rock-Tenn
Company 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company 1993 Stock
Purchase Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company 1989 Stock Option Plan and the Rock-Tenn
Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, (ii) the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.
33-83304) which pertains to the Rock-Tenn Company 1993 Employee Stock Option
Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Rock-Tenn
Company Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company 1989 Stock Option
Plan, and the Rock-Tenn Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, and (iii) the
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-93934) of Rock-Tenn Company, of our
report dated October 25, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements incorporated herein by reference; and (b) to the use of our report
included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement
schedule included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September
30, 2000, and our report dated November 10, 2000, with respect to the financial
statements of the Rock-Tenn Company 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan filed as
an Exhibit to this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30,
2000.

                                                  ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
December 14, 2000