Both individuals and businesses use incredible amounts of cardboard every year, mostly in the form of shipping materials. Luckily, cardboard recycling is an easy way to contribute to sustainability. To keep your waste from harming the environment, follow these simple tips.

Do:

Designate a spot specifically for cardboard.

For total ease and convenience, set up a bin for cardboard recycling next to the other recycling bins in your home or business. Make sure all containers are entirely separate and clearly marked, as cardboard can't be recycled with metal, plastic, or paper. Tossing items in their respective bins means you won’t have to sort them later.

Keep it dry.

Most collectors won't accept cardboard that's wet. Since even a little moisture can contribute to a lot of mold growth, take measures to keep your cardboard bin totally dry. For example, don't leave it outside, unless it's under a waterproof awning, and don't set any cardboard out on the curb for collection if it's raining.

Don’t:

Save soiled products.

While shipping materials aren't generally soiled, other common cardboard products—such as pizza boxes—rarely remain pristine. Since grease and food debris contribute to lower quality recycled paper products, collectors won't accept soiled items. If you want to recycle pizza boxes, cut off any areas that have soaked up grease first.

Crush it.

When it comes to saving space, folding boxes is far better than crushing them. Cutting through the panels that are attached to one another takes a few extra seconds, but it'll allow you to collapse even the largest boxes into relatively thin sheets of cardboard. This, in turn, helps collectors fit even more recyclables on their trucks.

The friendly team at Green Earth LLC will be happy to contribute to your cardboard recycling efforts. Serving individuals and businesses across Shenandoah Valley, VA, for over 20 years, they have an unwavering commitment to supporting sustainability efforts. As a result, they offer a broad range of services, including dumpster rentals and on-site recycling. To learn more about their offerings, visit their website or call (540) 801-8668.