How do you break down boxes for recycling?

Commercial Cardboard waste

Every year, the commercial sector is responsible for discarding millions of tonnes of cardboard. Not only is it bad for the environment but also incurs high waste management costs.

Why do so many organisations fail to recycle cardboard correctly when they know that doing so could save them time and money?

There are several reasons for this, but one of the most reasons is that cardboard, especially cardboard boxes, can be hard to prepare for recycling.

Most companies do one of two things to dispose of their cardboard: Flat packing or baling.

Here’s how to break down boxes for recycling using these methods:

Flat-Packing

Try to remove any traces of plastic including tape, shipping labels or packaging material. If the box was in contact with a liquid such as oil you will need to cut that section out.

Turn the box upside down and use a box cutter, knife, or scissors to cut the packaging tape and flatten the box.

Baling

Many companies use cardboard balers to minimize the volume and space of waste cardboard. 

To use a baler, simply open the door, flip the box upside down and place it in the chamber. Close the door and activate the machine.