Can Corrugated Boxes Be Recycled?
- By Cory Levins
- 13 feb 2020
Corrugated shipping boxes are everywhere in today’s business environment. They’ve always been ubiquitous, but with the rise of eCommerce, corrugated shipping boxes are now on every doorstep and piling up in every garage and warehouse.
Understandably, the trending increase in corrugated boxes has created some questions of sustainability. How can we efficiently get rid of all of this cardboard and keep its impact on the environment to a minimum? Fortunately, the vast majority of corrugated cardboard boxes can be recycled—but there are a few things you should know first.
Corrugated boxes are made from multiple layers of cardboard that are pressed together with a layer of thin, fluted cardboard in between to create air chambers that cushion the package’s cargo. This three-layered system makes corrugated boxes relatively tough and protective while remaining light in weight.
Recycling is central to the life cycle of a corrugated cardboard box. Many of the corrugated boxes that we use every day are actually made from a material referred to as OCC—old corrugated cardboard. Thus, when you recycle a cardboard box, you’re actually contributing to one of the world’s most sustainable packaging systems.
With a few important exceptions, corrugated boxes are almost always recyclable. As previously mentioned, corrugated boxes are often made from post-consumer materials such as other recycled corrugated boxes, making them one of the more environmentally friendly packaging materials when disposed of correctly. In fact, corrugated cardboard is among the most frequently and successfully recycled materials in the world.
It’s not hard to recycle corrugated boxes. They can be taken to a recycling center or placed in curbside recycling pickup bins for collection. From there, the boxes are delivered to a paper mill, which will process them and form many of them into new corrugated board.
A corrugated box can be recycled under most circumstances. The corrugated shipping boxes that are typically used to ship goods to a home or business are almost always recyclable, as are the boxes of electronic devices and consumer goods.
Here’s where it gets a little tricky: Cardboard food and beverage packaging that has not touched any food or liquids is also recyclable. However, the rule of thumb is that if corrugated packaging has touched food directly or is attached to another kind of packaging, it may not be recyclable. Non-recyclable corrugated cardboard items include:
Food, certain plastics and other foreign materials are considered “contaminants” to cardboard recycling. These incompatible materials can cause problems in the recycling process, and their presence can result in an entire batch of recyclables being rejected. Thus, it’s extremely important to keep them out of recycling streams.
Recycling a corrugated box isn’t a complex process. However, you’ll need to prepare and break down your corrugated box before recycling it.
First, remove any other materials that may have been included with the box as part of the packaging. Bubble wrap, plastic wrap, foam inserts, wood inserts and all other kinds of additional packaging materials should be removed.
To break down a corrugated box, cut the packing tape on the box’s bottom and sides with a box cutter and then extend all of the box’s flaps and press it flat. Now you’re ready to take your box to be recycled.
In most cities, corrugated boxes can be recycled in standard curbside recycling along with single-walled cardboard. However, many recycling programs also require corrugated boxes to be separated from bottles and cans. In more rural areas that don’t offer curbside recycling pickup, you’ll need to take your cardboard boxes to a recycling center and place them in the correct bin.
Businesses that recycle a lot of corrugated boxes (as many do) may want to bale their boxes for more efficient transportation. Large businesses even sometimes invest in machines that automatically compact and bale corrugated boxes for easy disposal and hassle-free recycling.
Corrugated board is among the best choices for recyclable packaging. It’s cost-effective, durable and more sustainable than many comparable options. Air Sea Containers’ packaging experts are happy to handle all of your questions about corrugated boxes. From corrugated hazmat shipping boxes to custom corrugated boxes, we’ve got it all covered. Just call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online to learn more.
Browse Our Selection of Corrugated Boxes
Understandably, the trending increase in corrugated boxes has created some questions of sustainability. How can we efficiently get rid of all of this cardboard and keep its impact on the environment to a minimum? Fortunately, the vast majority of corrugated cardboard boxes can be recycled—but there are a few things you should know first.
What Is a Corrugated Box Made from?
Corrugated boxes are made from multiple layers of cardboard that are pressed together with a layer of thin, fluted cardboard in between to create air chambers that cushion the package’s cargo. This three-layered system makes corrugated boxes relatively tough and protective while remaining light in weight.
Recycling is central to the life cycle of a corrugated cardboard box. Many of the corrugated boxes that we use every day are actually made from a material referred to as OCC—old corrugated cardboard. Thus, when you recycle a cardboard box, you’re actually contributing to one of the world’s most sustainable packaging systems.
Recycling Corrugated Boxes
With a few important exceptions, corrugated boxes are almost always recyclable. As previously mentioned, corrugated boxes are often made from post-consumer materials such as other recycled corrugated boxes, making them one of the more environmentally friendly packaging materials when disposed of correctly. In fact, corrugated cardboard is among the most frequently and successfully recycled materials in the world.
It’s not hard to recycle corrugated boxes. They can be taken to a recycling center or placed in curbside recycling pickup bins for collection. From there, the boxes are delivered to a paper mill, which will process them and form many of them into new corrugated board.
When Corrugated Boxes Can (and Can’t) Be Recycled
A corrugated box can be recycled under most circumstances. The corrugated shipping boxes that are typically used to ship goods to a home or business are almost always recyclable, as are the boxes of electronic devices and consumer goods.
Here’s where it gets a little tricky: Cardboard food and beverage packaging that has not touched any food or liquids is also recyclable. However, the rule of thumb is that if corrugated packaging has touched food directly or is attached to another kind of packaging, it may not be recyclable. Non-recyclable corrugated cardboard items include:
- Pizza boxes, takeout containers or other boxes with food residue on them
- Cardboard that’s gotten wet
- Frozen food containers
- Waxed cardboard items such as milk and juice containers
- Plastic-lined cardboard items such as produce containers
Food, certain plastics and other foreign materials are considered “contaminants” to cardboard recycling. These incompatible materials can cause problems in the recycling process, and their presence can result in an entire batch of recyclables being rejected. Thus, it’s extremely important to keep them out of recycling streams.
How to Recycle a Corrugated Box
Recycling a corrugated box isn’t a complex process. However, you’ll need to prepare and break down your corrugated box before recycling it.
First, remove any other materials that may have been included with the box as part of the packaging. Bubble wrap, plastic wrap, foam inserts, wood inserts and all other kinds of additional packaging materials should be removed.
To break down a corrugated box, cut the packing tape on the box’s bottom and sides with a box cutter and then extend all of the box’s flaps and press it flat. Now you’re ready to take your box to be recycled.
In most cities, corrugated boxes can be recycled in standard curbside recycling along with single-walled cardboard. However, many recycling programs also require corrugated boxes to be separated from bottles and cans. In more rural areas that don’t offer curbside recycling pickup, you’ll need to take your cardboard boxes to a recycling center and place them in the correct bin.
Businesses that recycle a lot of corrugated boxes (as many do) may want to bale their boxes for more efficient transportation. Large businesses even sometimes invest in machines that automatically compact and bale corrugated boxes for easy disposal and hassle-free recycling.
Corrugated board is among the best choices for recyclable packaging. It’s cost-effective, durable and more sustainable than many comparable options. Air Sea Containers’ packaging experts are happy to handle all of your questions about corrugated boxes. From corrugated hazmat shipping boxes to custom corrugated boxes, we’ve got it all covered. Just call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online to learn more.
Browse Our Selection of Corrugated Boxes
