Cardboard box recycling plays a crucial role in reducing waste, saving energy, and contributing to environmental sustainability. With the growing use of cardboard due to the rise in eCommerce, many households and businesses are left with piles of cardboard boxes. Fortunately, recycling cardboard is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste and conserve resources. In this guide, we will cover how to properly recycle cardboard boxes and why it matters.
Types of Cardboard Boxes for Recycling
Paper-Based Boxes These are the cheaper and easier to break box types which, as the name suggests, are made paperboard as opposed to solid cardboard. These boxes are made of short fibers and are more unsustainable for recycling. Still, paper fibers are known to be recyclable but not if they are not separated.
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes As its name endows, the corrugated cardboard, a 'folding', extends usage of cardboard in packaging shipments to moving house is because the edges of the cardboard available are more thick and denser. These boxes include more than one layer and they include one of the layering material with waves in the middle known as flute which helps in cushioning of items when they are being moved. Corrugated cardboard is also easy to recycle and ideal for the large recycling efforts.
Why Recycle Cardboard Boxes?
- There are so many reasons any cardboard box recycling should be considered both for business and for Mother Nature. By engaging in the recycling of these materials, you champion practices that conserve and minimize the amount of wastes produced, utilize less energy, and conserve the materials.
- Energy Saving The amount of energy required in cardboard recycling is 75 percent compared to the same quantities of cardboard being produced from raw materials. For instance, 46 gallons of oil are saved for each ton of cardboard which is recycled. This is the reason as to why cardboard recycling is both environmentally friendly and conserves energy.
- Resource Saving Cardboards are made of trees and because of the recycling of these cardboards, trees are saved. While it takes 3 tons of trees to produce 1 ton of cardboard, the recycling of paper helps to lessen this burden. The recycling of cardboards is imaginable in that for every ton that is recycled, about 9 cubic yards of landfills are saved from going to waste.
- Use of Cardboard Boxes leads to Reduction of Emissions Recycling of cardboard boxes cuts down emissions especially those that are airborne because new materials require energy to produce. It also helps in reducing the amount of water used, hazardous pollutants and other chemicals that are negative to the environment.
How to Prepare Your Cardboard Boxes for Recycling
To ensure successful recycling, it is essential to prepare your cardboard boxes properly before disposal.
Step 1: Sorting plastics recyclables from other non recyclables On any non-recyclable element, such as plastic packaging, styrofoam, bubble wrapping, etc, along with tapes and labels to some extent remain on the cardboard blanket.
Step 2: Dismantle and Squash the Containers It does not only help in proper management of space within your place but also include less labour work at the recycling centers. Dismantle bulky cardboard boxes such so that they fit in to recycling containers assigned for this task.
Step 3: Dry and dispose of dirty boxes clean boxes Contaminated cardboard boxes like wet or dirty ones are very difficult if not impossible to recycle. Thin sheets of water dissolving the fibers which perform effectively in any recycling process minimizes the actual water recycling process’s value. And, when the boxes wet and ruthless, you will only be able to recycle the clean parts, non greased areas.
The Cardboard Recycling Process
So why is this process important? It will help you in understanding the value of recycling cardboard boxes.
Step 1: Collection and Sorting The first one is, collection and sorting happens. After the containers are collected from homes or business concern facilities, they are segregated. For example, corrugated boxes will be separated from paperboard, mixed paper and other materials so as to give optimum recycling results.
Step 2: Shredding and Pulping Furthermore, the stored cardboard is fed into a shredder and broken into small pieces and mixed with water forms a slurry. This step saves the turning of the cardboard slurries into its fibres, which makes it possible to create new products.
Step 3: Filtering and Deinking Sorting and deinkers separate the contaminants like glue, ink and plastic from fiber molds. This process is known as filtration, and the purpose is to make sure all the contamination is removed from the recycled material.
Step 4: Drying and Rolling As a final step, the pulp which has been filtered is drier and pressed into sheets of cardboard. They are then stretched and used in the production of other products which include new cardboard boxes.
When You Can’t Recycle Cardboard Boxes
In spite of the fact that most of the corrugated cardboard can be recycled, there are some occasions that one comes across that prevent recycling.
Wet or Oily Cardboard such as Water Food apple pies too queerness Cannot be recycled. Such materials adversely affect the quality of the fibers and therefore cannot be reused.
Coated or Waxed Cardboard such a telescopic handle of the salad’s packaging unit helps The Same Situation with Burger Cans. These materials are not easily recyclable, gum or PVC coated milk or juice containers for instance. These materials are best thrown in the rubbish bin or beautified in other ways when recycling becomes unfeasible.
Reusing Large Cardboard Boxes
In case recycling is not a viable solution try reusing the large cardboard boxes that you have. They are big enough for storage of clothes and moveables; for use in creativity where they are fashioned into beautiful art works. These are boxes that you can creatively transform for few useful apps, here are some:
- Storage Solutions: Large cardboard boxes can be used to pack cluttered items in the garage and the loft.
- Composting: Cardboards can be shredded and put into the compost heaps as a soil amendment.
- Gardening: Card board hones can be used to build a proper ghost writer along with cardboard roads for the lawn.
Wrap Up
Regularly recycling the cardboard box can be a straightforward yet efficient method to conserve energy and minimise trash production, thus protecting the earth. All the steps for orientation and recycling of cardboard will ensure that you become part of green economy. You can either recycle the cardboard or go a step further and use it for artistic purposes. It will be for a good cause.
