In the UK, cardboard is mainly used as a packaging material, especially within the manufacturing and retail industries.
- The UK produces over 8 million tonnes of packaging a year - enough to fill 19,000 jumbo jets.
- Every tonne of cardboard recycled saves 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water, 2 cubic yards of landfill and 4,100 kw/hours of electricity.
- Annually we use the equivalent of 140 corrugated cardboard boxes for each person in the UK - altogether that's enough to make a pile as big as a football pitch and one and a half times as high as Nelson's Column.
THE PRACTICAL DETAILS OF THE RECYCLING PROCESS
Reducing before recycling
The simplest and most cost-effective method for reducing the amount of cardboard discarded is by reducing the amount received/produced. Many suppliers over-package goods because they assume customers prefer heavily packaged products. Check with suppliers and distributors whether items can be supplied with less cardboard or other packaging.
Cardboard can also be composted. The cardboard should be shredded so that it will mix with other materials and decompose quickly.
How is Cardboard Recycled?
Cardboard is made of cellulose fibres, generally from wood pulp. To recycle cardboard it is first soaked in water and agitated to release the fibres, turning them back into pulp. Metal and ink contaminants are removed, additional finishing chemicals are added and the pulp is pressed into sheets and dried (for detail, see "Recycling Office Paper"). Although the fibres get shorter each time they are pulped, cardboard can be recycled four or five times before they disintegrate.
Recycled cardboard is primarily used to make boxes and other packaging, but has a range of other uses including stationery, animal bedding and coffins.
What types of cardboard can be recycled?
There are two main types of cardboard, both of which can be recycled.
- Corrugated cardboard, with a ruffled layer between the two flat pieces of cardboard
- Flat cardboard, typically used in cereal and shoe boxes
All cardboard products can be readily recycled unless they are laminated with another material (such as plastic in the manufacture of juice cartons).
Some dealers require that the corrugated material be baled; while others will take loose material.
Tips for cardboard recycling
- Staples do not generally have to be removed
- Tape may have to be removed from the cardboard - check with the recycler ยท
- Remove food, plastic liners, waxed paper and Styrofoam
- Contaminants such as plastics and chemicals will reduce the economic viability of recycling
- Waxed cardboard can't be recycled