Cardboard also referred to as corrugated cardboard is a recyclable material that can be recycled for the benefit of small and large business owners who often have to pay for these materials to be removed.
Cardboard recycling refers to the re-use or recycling of thick sheets of heavy card paper. The cardboard is typically heavier than most types of paper. It’s known for durability and toughness.
The typical carton includes packaging boxes, boxes, egg cartons, footwear, and cereals Thanks to our parent’s diligence, few boxes were thrown away.
Is cardboard recyclable?
Yes. Generally, cardboard can be recycled or reusable. The two main materials used for cardboard are corrugated cardboard and paper.
Corrugated cardboard is the most common packaging material used by mailers. The box contains the inner layer of cardboard between sheets of lined paper to improve durability.
The United States Forest & Paper Association reported a 96.8% recovery rate for Old Corrugated Cardboard containers in 2018, the highest recovery rate of any type.
Why is cardboard recycling important?
Saves trees
Recycling cardboard helps reduce tree loss by creating new products. Deforestation contributes to global warming significantly. Recycled cardboard saves thousands of trees and helps to protect the natural environment.
Reduces landfill space needed for garbage.
When more cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, etc enter the cardboard recycling process then it greatly helps reduce the impact to cities and makes the waste management process that much easier as there is less to throw away.
Increases awareness of our environment
When we become aware of what we throw away that could be recycled such as old pizza boxes, paper products like office paper, and even wallpaper, then we begin to understand the sheer volume of recycled materials that just get thrown into the environment is unsustainable and is causing a large impact on plant and wildlife.
Recycling your household cardboard waste
Here are some commonly asked questions about cardboard recycling. You can also check with the local authorities regarding recyclable items, which are highly individualized from area to area.
Most if not all municipalities have the facilities to recycle cardboard boxes and other cardboard materials as it is so prevalent in our daily lives just like plastic packaging materials are.
In 2020 the amount of cardboard recycled was around 33,000,000,000 tons, however, due to increased demand from online purchasing by around 8% and limited access to the outside world, recycling rates when down around 10%.
This meant that many hundreds of thousands of tons of cardboard waste found its way into the garbage and became many more yards of landfill space when it simply didn’t need to.
What cardboards are not recyclable?
Nevertheless, cardboard cannot always be rescued from landfill. If the cardboard is stained with grease or food particles it must be added to the yards of landfill space we fill up on an hourly basis instead of in a recycle bin.
Wet cardboard should be kept if possible until it has dried out before adding it to your recycling container for your local curbside recycling program.
What can we do with these items? Because they contaminate other cardboard in recycling containers, which can affect the recycling process and make the separation of oils from paper fibers harder, you need to find another way to get rid of this type of cardboard waste.
One of the easiest ways is to add it to your compost pile. If you can cut it into thin strips of pieces and then you can add and mix in this shredded cardboard which will work into your mulch quickly.
Can I recycle cardboard with tape on it?
Most boxes aren’t recyclable with tape on them so it is advisable to remove the sticky tape before recycling. Your local recycling center will not be pleased with you if they have to spend hours removing garbage from your recycled cardboard boxes.
They may even toss them adding yet more cubic yards of landfill, which also increases their waste disposal costs.
Can you recycle pizza boxes?
Pizza can generally be recycled when they are cleaned out and are free of grease and food. Supermarket Pizza Boxes typically include pizza bundled in clingfilm so the item is clean and recyclable.
Treat pizza boxes like any other cardboard boxes when you are recycling. Use the same thought process about cleanliness and condition as you would when recycling packaging from places like Amazon or other online stores.
Can you recycle shiny cardboard?
It’s best for you to recycle your recyclable boxes and contact the local councils. But glitter is not allowed so anything with glitter must be put into your usual trash can.
If your boxes have a gloss print, like many cereal boxes for example, then those too should be ok to be put out for recycling.
Can you recycle cardboard food boxes?
Unfortunately, cardboard covered with greasy food residue can be placed in the usual disposal bin. Some containers like cans of potato chips have a foil lining and bottom and a plastic lid. You can pull out the foil lining and remove the foil bottom and plastic lid. this should then be ok.
How can I recycle cardboard?
Not all cardboard and recycling paper can be turned into renewable materials so the paper cardboard industry is constantly trying to satisfy our need for new cardboard.
Break down the boxes
The first step of recycling cardboard is separating the boxes from their contents. You can use scissors or box cutters to remove the tape that holds the box in place, making it easier to collapse. Please check to make sure any packaging is not discarded along with the box.
When recycling cardboard boxes like Amazon boxes, you will see that to protect the contents, the boxes are new cardboard boxes. These corrugated boxes are made from thicker cardboard and as these packaging materials are of high quality recycling centers and recycling facilities are more than happy to accept this almost virgin cardboard into their recycling program.
While it may be possible for you to get rid of packaging labels and tapes, the majority of recycling shops will take the packaging away. When cardboard is found to be in contact with a solvent, remove that part and recycle it. This technique applies equally to boxes of pizza that contains no grease.
Put them outside on recycling day
It’s not enough to smooth out your pre recycled cardboard boxes. They may need to be cut or folded to ensure they fit into the recycle box to ensure the cardboard is recycled.
Some companies allow people to put cardboard in a trashcan outside. Weather like that could ruin the collection, especially on rainy days. Then you’ll be stuck with a bunch of wet cardboard.
If it is not possible for you to put everything in a recycling bin you should store it somewhere in a secure spot. To make sure your cardboard is recycled, call the recycling facility office for an appointment to go and drop off your recycled material
The cardboard recycling process
Let’s take a look at how paper products and other packing materials are remade in paper mills and recycling plants.
Old cardboard sheets are converted into new cardboard sheets
Using these techniques, enormous reels are made from brown paper that weighs hundreds of kilograms. This is cut into smaller sizes and layers for thicker cardboard and paperboard. In the case of corrugated cardboard and other corrugated packing products, the central sections have teeth instead of smooth surfaces giving the crinkle and ridge shape that can provide further support for the type of boards used in box construction as well.
Recycling cardboard is different in the recycling plant from paper mills and in papermaking but the steps of recycling remain the same: separating the wastes, recycling the pulps, removing and filtering, drying, and rolling.
The cardboard is sorted and shredded
The cardboard had to go through preparation to be recycled. The first step is sorting all the different boards and making the distinction between cartons and corrugated cardboard.
Some of these are manufactured using different materials and processes and can also be recycled in certain goods. When the package is sorted, the cardboard will become smaller and more useful in later stages of manufacturing. Some wood chips are added to strengthen the mixture with more wood pulp.
The pulp is filtered
Waste cardboard can usually be 85% board. They are often mixed in other materials such as adhesive tape, staples, and packaging. Centrifuges can separate materials by weight from the other materials. Magnetics can remove any metal object, however tiny. Only after filtration is the pulp acceptable for storage as often as possible so that cardboard is needed for the manufacturing process.
The mixture is rolled and dried
The mixture may contain up to 90% water and needs treatment for a longer time to be useful. There can be various methods to help in this process such as vacuum roller and conveyor belt vibratory systems and steam heating. The sheets are eventually pressed by roller and turned into a sort of paper. Rollers add additional layers to the cardboard, as per thickness.
More water is added
Immediately after the manufacture is needed the pulp is mixed with water again pressing and mixing again. It will help ensure consistency in future usage. The time of this stage depends on what types of cardboard are used. The chemical mixture will then gain extra characteristics such as water resistance.
It is mixed with water and pulped
Shredded materials are then put in tanks and mixed with water. The process, which breaks down the cardboard known as the pulping process, softens and turns the cardboard into the right material for new product manufacturing.
Alternative Cardboard Recycling Methods
There are many other ways of making cardboard boxes more useful. In reality, you can’t waste these resources despite having a number of alternative options available. The humble cardboard box is very versatile and can be put to an almost endless amount of use.
Upcycling your cardboard / making new things with old cardboard
Most of the cardboard recycled these days can be turned into great art projects. You can actually make money recycling cardboard and paper products in this way in favor of collecting and selling bulk items.
Moving boxes make excellent doll houses and smaller corrugated containers make great jewelry boxes.
Use your cardboard for the kids’ arts and crafts classes
Waxed cardboard cannot be recycled easily but shrugs off paint and other messy things, use it for the kids, they’ll love it and it will stop you from wasting money on new materials. Not all cardboard will be suitable so some may require cardboard recycling but most will work.
Looking to make money from crafts?
Click here to learn how with our step-by-step guide showing you everything you need to know.
