What’s the Deal with Cardboard Recycling?

As the holiday season approaches, our homes will become scattered with festive packaging – especially cardboard boxes.

While it’s tempting to toss them into the trash and just be done with it, recycling cardboard boxes is an easy way to make a difference. Cardboard is one of the most recyclable materials, and recycling it helps conserve natural resources, save energy, and reduce landfill waste. Plus, cardboard provides fiber for newly manufactured products. And manufacturing creates jobs!

Now, just how do you go about recycling cardboard boxes? Check out these three easy steps to recycling cardboard efficiently:

1. Break it down: Break down cardboard boxes by tearing or cutting along the seams. The box should easily fold up.
 2. Flatten it out: Cardboard sides or pieces must be flat to be able to fit inside your recycling cart to be recycled.
 3. Fit it inside your cart: Cardboard, like other recyclables, must fit inside the recycling cart to be picked up. Please don’t overstuff your cart. If you have more than the cart will hold, save the pieces for the next pick-up.

Also, important to note: make sure to remove any Styrofoam, air pillow, and packing peanuts before recycling your cardboard boxes. Those materials are not recyclable and should be placed in your trashcan instead. You can leave the tape on your cardboard you are recycling. To learn more, visit FlatCardboard.com.