Cardboard packaging is everywhere and it is perhaps one of the simplest materials to segregate and recycle as it is easy to handle.

It takes up a lot of room in your waste containers and will even when crushed expand back out due to the nature of the material as it has what we call Memory Retention. It is made of cellulose fibres, generally from wood pulp, which can be used again if recycled.

However because of its light weight and low quality it holds little monetary value for recycling but is very worth while as is make both good economic and environmental sense to do so.

Depending on the volume of cardboard generated we can implement several options from enclosed containers, compactors and vertical balers to fully automated horizontal balers with conveyor belt systems.
 
What Happens to the Cardboard?

Cardboard recycling involves soaking in water and agitating to release fibres, turning them back into pulp. Metal and ink contaminants are removed, additional finishing chemicals are added; the pulp is pressed into sheets and dried.

Although the fibres get shorter each time they are pulped, cardboard can be recycled four or five times before fibres degrade and disintegrate.

Second time around cardboard makes more boxes and packaging, but has an interesting range of other uses including stationery, animal bedding – and as a final resting place, coffins.