Bulk Cardboard Recycling for Businesses Without Cardboard Recycling Dumpsters

Is your business producing tons of cardboard waste?

From boxes and dividers to cartons and pasteboard inserts, paper and cardboard is easily recycled, but it’s not always a given for your building or office space to provide free cardboard recycling containers or cardboard dumpsters, making bulk cardboard recycling difficult.

In this blog, we’ll discuss how to easily recycle your bulk cardboard when you don’t have access to a cardboard recycling dumpster or commercial cardboard recycling machine, and how to get reliable, on-demand bulk cardboard pickups straight from your warehouse or business for the most affordable price.

Cardboard is an easily recycled material that is made from paper, as well as previously recycled cardboard fiber. The most common forms of cardboard used commercially are corrugated cardboard and grey paperboard.

• Corrugated cardboard: Cardboard boxes are typically made from multiple layers of flat and corrugated cardboard, and is used for packing and transport.
• Grey paperboard: Also called fiberboard or container board, this is a thicker type of paper that is made from recycled corrugated cardboard. It is typically used for manufacturing shoe and cereal boxes, among other things.

It’s likely that your business uses both types of cardboard, and might also use other cardboard items like inserts, dividers, and crates, all of which can be recycled.

Businesses generate a significant amount of cardboard waste, which is mandatory to recycle in some states. About 90% of the cardboard in the solid waste stream comes from the non-residential sector, with about 15% generated in office settings and 40%+ in retail.

Fun Recycling Fact: ♻️ Cardboard and paperboard are the most recycled items in the country.

What types of cardboard can be recycled?

Look around your business or office. How much cardboard can you find laying around? How much cardboard does your business use daily? Monthly? It’s likely that just about everything your business orders comes in a cardboard box that may also contain cardboard materials inside for packaging. All of these cardboard materials are recyclable.

In addition to the obvious, there are other recyclable cardboard items that your office might use, including paper plates and cups, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, and even mail.

But can all of it be recycled?

Types of cardboard that can be recycled

• Boxes
• Plates
• Tubes
• Fiberboard
• Paperboard

Recyclable cardboard doesn’t have to be sorted prior to pick up, but it must be flattened first, which can easily be done by hand or with a cardboard box breakdown machine or sort system. All of your cardboard will be sorted at the recycling facility once it arrives, saving you the time and money it would cost if you had to do it yourself.

The only requirement for commercial cardboard recycling is that all of your non-contaminated boxes are broken down.

Types of cardboard that can’t be recycled

Unfortunately, not all cardboard is recyclable. When cardboard is contaminated, it should be thrown in the trash. But what will contaminate your cardboard and make it non-recyclable?

• Oil
• Grease
• Wet cardboard

Taking the time to sort your contaminated cardboard from your non-contaminated cardboard is a great way to ensure your entire load is properly recycled, and doesn’t end up in a landfill.

Contaminated cardboard clogs up recycling equipment

Since contaminated cardboard can’t be recycled, it’s important to separate it from your clean and dry cardboard, and toss it directly into the trash. Wet cardboard boxes can clog up commercial cardboard recycling machines and cardboard sorting machines, which means the entire bale of cardboard will be thrown into a landfill. One bale is equal to one cubic yard.

Cardboard should always be recycled, especially by businesses. Businesses generally use and receive such a large amount of cardboard, that throwing it in with the regular trash would actually have a serious negative impact on our natural resources and environment.

📦 In the United States alone, more than 80 billion cardboard boxes are used every year. Recycling one ton of cardboard diverts more than nine cubic yards from landfills.

How to free up space when bulk cardboard recycling

It’s important that your cardboard waste is kept dry, clean, and free of grease or other contaminants. Contaminated cardboard can’t be recycled, which means that it will end up in a landfill, and will never be reused in any way. This increases the need for new cardboard, which will result in mass deforestation.

Since cardboard tends to take up a lot of space, there are some ways that your business can reduce the amount of space it takes up.

• Bulk Cardboard Collection: Hire an on-demand commercial cardboard recycling service like LoadUp to haul away your bulk cardboard for recycling. You can book bulk cardboard pickups based on need, and aren’t required to stay on a set cardboard recycling pickup schedule. This option is more cost-effective since you are only paying for the services that you need, only when you need them.
• Cardboard Balers: Cardboard balers are machines used to compress cardboard, making it easier to store prior to pickups. Depending on the tonnage of cardboard your business creates, cardboard balers can run anywhere from $5k to $75k.
• Cardboard Shredders: This machine will allow you to reuse your cardboard waste to create void packaging materials that will save your company money on brand new packing materials. This saves you space through reuse.

📦 Looking for “free cardboard recycling near me?” Check if your county offers free cardboard recycling pickups. If your county does pick up cardboard, it is considered a bulk item which often only permits 1-2 free pickups per year and on specific days. This is a good option for residents who have recently moved, but not a viable solution for a business’ bulk cardboard recycling needs.

You probably already have cardboard recycle bins or boxes for offices, but how much cardboard do they really hold? It can be frustrating and daunting when you don’t have access to a free cardboard recycling dumpster or container, but there isn’t always helpful information returned when you search for “cardboard recycling dumpsters near me”.

However, holding on to all your flattened cardboard is a fire hazard, takes up valuable space in your office or warehouse, and attracts pests like roaches and other bugs that no one wants in the workplace.

With LoadUp’s commercial cardboard recycling pickup services, getting rid of bulk cardboard from your business, office or warehouse is fast and easy!

Our alternative to cardboard recycling dumpsters saves you money on dumpster rental or purchase, which starts at about $1k. That doesn’t include the service fee that you would have to pay to get your local recycling company to come empty the dumpster.

Who are bulk cardboard recycling pickups for?

LoadUp’s bulk cardboard recycling pickup services are ideal for any business that generates a large amount of cardboard waste but don’t have access to a cardboard recycling dumpster.

Our solution is perfect for:

• Warehouses
• Office buildings
• Any business that generates a large volume of cardboard waste

Our nationwide solution will save your business both time and money. Most recycling pickups will require you to bundle your boxes with twine – but we don’t!

Our skilled Loaders are locally-based professionals with the strength and know-how to remove all of your flattened cardboard boxes with ease.