Old corrugated cardboards are boxes or packages made of two smooth layers containing a corrugated piece at the center and are used for more heavy-duty functions. Old corrugated cardboard is a recyclable material that can be turned into new corrugated cardboard once again.
What are the Benefits of Recycling Old Corrugated Cardboards?
The rate of recovery for old corrugated cardboard reached 92.9% in 2016 according to the Corrugated Packaging Alliance. About 51% of old corrugated cardboard is used to make new corrugated cardboards and about 32% of these are exported. The more old corrugated cardboard is recycled, the less waste is dumped into landfills. From 2006 to 2014, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 35% due to the recycling of old corrugated cardboard. Recycling old corrugated cardboard also helps conserve water and energy as well as reduce the need for virgin timber.
How to Prepare Old Corrugated Cardboard for Recycling?
Old corrugated cardboards need to be opened and flattened prior to placing them in storage containers. Make sure that the material is not contaminated with harmful substances and that the storage container for the old corrugated cardboard is easily accessible to haulers.
Making the choice to bale or not to bale is crucial for old corrugated cardboard recycling. The best option for small firms that produce a relatively small amount of old corrugated cardboard is to hand bundle the waste, store it in a proper container, and have a hauler pick it up. The effective transportation of old corrugated cardboard to recycling facilities requires enterprises that produce a lot of old corrugated cardboard to use big storage containers and then compact or bale it using an industrial baler. Utilizing shredding in conjunction with compression or baling to increase the density of the material for transport is a more recent innovation.
How Did China’s Waste Import Ban Affect the Recycling of Old Corrugated Cardboard?
China’s limitations on the import of waste from other countries have become more strict, which has decreased the demand for recycled content including old corrugated cardboard. In addition, as e-commerce continues to expand, more residential deliveries are being made in corrugated containers, and old corrugated cardboard generation in municipal recycling programs has increased, creating additional issues for recycling.
