What Cardboards Can Be Recycled to Be Reused?

Corrugated Cardboard

• Corrugated cardboard boxes are used for shipping and packing material for businesses and consumers. This type of cardboard is made with a wavy piece of cardboard set in between two other pieces making it sturdy enough to hold heavier items. Corrugated cardboard can be recycled as long as it is free of tape and labels.

Paperboard

• Paperboard is more commonly known as the boxes household items are packaged in at the stores. Paperboard items include shirt boxes, cereal boxes, shoe boxes, tissue boxes and other food packaging. These items can be recycled as long as they do not have any food residue on them.

Non-recyclable Cardboard

• Some food containers cannot be recycled because there is food residue or because of the way they are made. Items such as milk cartons that are covered in a wax coating cannot be recycled. Also, pizza boxes where the cheese gets stuck to the box or grease is absorbed cannot be recycled. Other non-recyclable boxes include those that have been dampened or covered in chemicals.

How to Recycle

• You have to flatten cardboard you wish to recycle and if required by your area tie it together in bundles with twine. Recyclable cardboard can be left out curbside or at your apartment complex's recycling bin area for pick up. If these options are not available to you, you can take your cardboard to local community recycling centers.

Other Reuses

• Instead of sending your cardboard out to be recycled, reuse it around your home or office. Corrugated boxes can be reused to store items, for boxing items to donate or for moving. Smaller paperboard boxes can be used to wrap up gifts or cut down to make dividers in a desk or kitchen drawer. You can also take paperboard products to local preschools and elementary schools to be used for craft projects. In addition, kids love to play in boxes so let them use their imagination and give them some of your corrugated boxes to play with.