Is Cardboard Waste Recyclable
Yes! Cardboard is recyclable. Your cardboard waste can be recycled into a range of products, such as cereal boxes, paper towels, and writing paper. The EPA estimates that 68% of all paper and cardboard recycling actually winds up being recycled every year.
What Is Cardboard Used For
Cardboard is a widely used packaging material that is 100% recyclable. It is made from paper and is often used to create boxes for packaging, shipping, and storage. Recycling cardboard is essential for reducing waste and preserving the environment.
How Is Cardboard Recycled
The cardboard recycling process begins by collecting waste materials and transporting them to a recycling facility. Waste collections may occur from a variety of sources, such as households, businesses, and manufacturing facilities.
Once the cardboard is collected, it goes through a sorting process. The cardboard is separated from other materials like plastics and metals, which are not recyclable. The sorting process also removes foreign materials like tape and glue that may be attached to the cardboard.
After the sorting process, the cardboard is broken down into small pieces and mixed with water and chemicals. This mixture is then heated to break down the fibers in the cardboard. Once the fibers are separated, they are cleaned and pressed into large rolls of paper that can be used to make new cardboard boxes.
What Are The Benefits Of Recycling Cardboard
Recycling cardboard saves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Producing new cardboard requires trees, energy, and water. Recycling cardboard reduces the need for new cardboard production, which reduces the demand for trees and energy. Additionally, recycling cardboard reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as it takes less energy to recycle cardboard than to produce new cardboard.
However, not all types of cardboard can be recycled. Corrugated cardboard, which has a wavy layer in between two flat layers, is the most commonly used type of cardboard and is easily recyclable. Pizza boxes, which are often greasy and contain food waste, are not always recyclable. If the pizza box is clean and free of food waste, it can be recycled. If it is greasy or has food waste, it should be thrown in the trash.
Cardboard Recycling Waste Management
Proper waste management is essential for cardboard recycling. It is vital to keep cardboard separate from other waste materials to ensure that it can be effectively recycled. This includes avoiding mixing paper and cardboard with other recyclable materials like plastic and metal. It is also crucial to remove foreign materials like tape and glue from cardboard to ensure that it can be properly processed.
Recycling cardboard is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to manage waste. It reduces the need for new cardboard production, conserves natural resources, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling cardboard also saves landfill space, as cardboard boxes take up a significant amount of space in landfills.
In addition to the environmental benefits, there are also economic benefits to cardboard recycling. Recycling cardboard generates revenue for recycling facilities and can also save businesses money on waste management costs. Many recycling facilities offer cardboard recycling services for free or at a low cost, which can save businesses money on waste management fees. At Bailey’s Skip Hire, we specialise in commercial recycling and repurpose large volumes of cardboard waste for businesses.
