Why do we Recycle Cardboard? The Benefits of Recycling Cardboard | SL Recycling (2024)

FAQs

Why do we Recycle Cardboard? The Benefits of Recycling Cardboard | SL Recycling? ›

If cardboard was to be sent to landfill, it would release methane (a greenhouse gas) as the material is broken down, which can have a powerful and detrimental impact on the earth's climate. However, by instead recycling cardboard, the amount of greenhouse gasses released into the environment is heavily reduced.

In today's economy, businesses and institutions recycle items like cardboard because it often saves them money on waste disposal costs. Recycling is also good for the planet and local communities because it helps conserve valuable resources, reduces pollution from production of new materials, and creates jobs.

Offers durability and protection

Compared to plastic and metal containers, cardboard containers can offer more protection to your products during storage. Cardboard often sports thicker walls, and this allows it to absorb shock.

Corrugated cardboard is eco-friendly, meaning it is healthy for the environment. It decomposes easily and can be recycled, making it a preferable choice for companies that want to be more environmentally ethical and lower their carbon footprint.

Facts About Cardboard Waste and Recycling

Recycling one ton of cardboard can save more than nine cubic yards of landfill space. About 80% of products sold in the united states are packaged in cardboard. In the United States, an average household throws away more than 9000 pieces of cardboard every year.

The answer is a resounding yes! Cardboard is one of the easiest and most common materials to recycle. Cardboard is made from paper fibers. It can be broken down and made into new paper products, including cereal, pizza and shipping boxes as well as toilet paper.

Recycling cardboard not only reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfill but also conserves resources and energy, as it takes much less energy to recycle cardboard than it does to produce new cardboard from scratch.

Cardboard boxes are primarily made from wood pulp, a renewable resource. Trees can be harvested and replanted, ensuring a sustainable supply. Furthermore, cardboard boxes are highly recyclable. By recycling used boxes, we can reduce the demand for raw materials and minimize waste sent to landfills.

Cardboard is 100 percent cellulose. Because you don't have the enzyme required to digest cardboard, simply moving it through your body would require more energy (calories) than you'd get from the cardboard.

In addition to the energy expended for manufacturing and the lost economic value, landfilling paper and cardboard contributes to methane emissions, waste-disposal fees, deforestation, and local siting and environmental issues, the researchers noted.

Is recycling cardboard worth it? ›

Cardboard may have a positive return in some months, while the value may be more limited in other months. However, recycling corrugated cardboard can save money in other ways, even if there is no demand for recycled cardboard. Sometimes, the cost of recycling is less than the cost of hauling and landfill fees.

Cardboard is often the eco-friendly champion against plastic packaging, celebrated for its renewable roots, biodegradability, and recyclability. Beyond the box, varieties like corrugated cardboard and paperboard highlight versatility, with corrugated options providing the robust backbone for shipping needs worldwide.

The first cardboard box was invented in 1817 by a British man named Marc Isambard Brunel. Cardboard boxes are made from a renewable resource, making them an environmentally friendly choice. The largest cardboard box ever made weighed over 22,000 pounds and was used to transport a large statue.

Energy savings: Using recycled cardboard can result in overall energy savings of 25-50% compared to virgin material. Reduced virgin material use: Recycled cardboard utilises 70-100% less virgin material, contributing to resource conservation.

The EPA says that we save 17 trees for every ton of paper that is recycled. I'm going to assume that corrugated cardboard and paper use about the same amount of trees per pound—so 17 trees = 1 ton of corrugated cardboard.

Cardboard boxes can be a great cost-effective solution as they can be re-used. They are also generally better for the environment than the plastic alternative. However, as discussed stacking difficulties may occur, particularly if the box cannot handle the weight of the content.

Selling cardboard waste

The secret is that cardboard waste which has been 'baled' by a baler machine can be sold on to recycling companies for reuse or resale, bringing in new revenue for businesses and converting what was a hefty disposal cost into cash.