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Cardboard
Accepted at 1 location
Cardboard is a paper-based packaging material that includes corrugated boxes, brown tubes, packing paper and bags and sacks.
Source: 19january2021snapshot.epa.gov : Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data | Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling | US EPA (1)
Cardboard Summary
Also known as: Corrugated Cardboard, Brown Paper Tubes, Brown Bags
Parent material: Paper Products
Accepted Locations

Keep as dry as possible.
No plastic-covered cardboard
No food residue / oily cardboard
Last updated on July 3, 2026 by Green Star GM
About Cardboard
What it is
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), containers and packaging make up about 30% of municipal solid waste, and cardboard is a significant contributor. The EPA reports that paper and cardboard ranks second to organics in amount of waste generated in the U.S. Cardboard can be recycled into new packaging materials, reducing the need for virgin resources and associated emissions.(1, 2, 3)
How it’s recycled
The recycling process involves collection, sorting, and processing at paper mills. The broken down cardboard is mixed with water and chemicals to create a pulp, and this pulping process helps to separate the cardboard fibers from each other, resulting in a slurry-like mixture of water and fibers. When corrugated cardboard is recycled, 74 percent is used to produce boxboard and the remaining 26 percent is utilized to produce corrugated cardboard.(2, 4, 5)
How to prepare it
Start by emptying cardboard boxes of any packing materials or trash. It's fine to keep tape or shipping labels on the box as these are removed during the recycling process. Next, break down and flatten your cardboard box, which helps save space in the recycling bin and keeps cardboard clean and dry.(5, 8, 10)
Common mistakes
A common mistake is attempting to recycle contaminated or greasy cardboard. While cardboard is highly recyclable, it becomes problematic when soiled with food residues, oils, or other contaminants. Cardboard that's greasy, wet, moldy, has food debris attached or is otherwise dirty is considered contaminated because it can't be processed, recycled and turned into new materials. Paper fibers break down when they're wet, so it's important to keep cardboard dry.(8, 9, 10)
Environmental impact
Producing cardboard from recycled fiber requires significantly less energy and water than producing it from virgin wood pulp; each ton of recycled cardboard saves trees from being felled, reduces the energy consumed in pulping raw materials, and avoids the greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfill decomposition.(3, 6, 7)
Sources & additional reading
- Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data | Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling | US EPA 19january2021snapshot.epa.gov
- Commercial Recycling | Paper Recycling | US EPA archive.epa.gov
- 3. source reduction and recycling archive.epa.gov
- Frequent Questions | Paper Recycling | US EPA archive.epa.gov
- How Cardboard is Recycled - Sunbright Recycling sunbright-recycling.com
- The Importance of Cardboard Recycling servicerecycling.com
- Cardboard Recycling: Sustainable Waste Solutions gradeall.com
- Avoid Common Mistakes When Recycling Cardboard Effectively integrityrecycling.net
- Cardboard Contamination: A Growing (and Expensive) Problem for Recyclers - Miller Recycling millerrecycling.com
- Cardboard is Recyclable | AF&PA afandpa.org
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