Cardboard Recycling Process

The following sections briefly outline the processes involved, and answer the necessary technical and logistical questions.

THE PRACTICAL DETAILS OF THE RECYCLING PROCESS:
PACKAGING REGULATIONS:

Once you have considered what recycling service you need, you can contact companies in the list of cardboard recycling services in Oxfordshire.

Background Facts

In the UK, cardboard is mainly used as a packaging material, especially within the manufacturing and retail industries.

  • The UK produces over 8 million tonnes of packaging a year - enough to fill 19,000 jumbo jets.
  • Every tonne of cardboard recycled saves 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water, 2 cubic yards of landfill and 4,100 kw/hours of electricity.
  • Annually we use the equivalent of 140 corrugated cardboard boxes for each person in the UK - altogether that's enough to make a pile as big as a football pitch and one and a half times as high as Nelson's Column.

THE PRACTICAL DETAILS OF THE RECYCLING PROCESS

Reducing before recycling

The simplest and most cost-effective method for reducing the amount of cardboard discarded is by reducing the amount received/produced. Many suppliers over-package goods because they assume customers prefer heavily packaged products. Check with suppliers and distributors whether items can be supplied with less cardboard or other packaging.

Cardboard can also be composted. The cardboard should be shredded so that it will mix with other materials and decompose quickly.

How is Cardboard Recycled?

Cardboard is made of cellulose fibres, generally from wood pulp. To recycle cardboard it is first soaked in water and agitated to release the fibres, turning them back into pulp. Metal and ink contaminants are removed, additional finishing chemicals are added and the pulp is pressed into sheets and dried (for detail, see "Recycling Office Paper"). Although the fibres get shorter each time they are pulped, cardboard can be recycled four or five times before they disintegrate.

Recycled cardboard is primarily used to make boxes and other packaging, but has a range of other uses including stationery, animal bedding and coffins.

What types of cardboard can be recycled?

There are two main types of cardboard, both of which can be recycled.

  • Corrugated cardboard, with a ruffled layer between the two flat pieces of cardboard
  • Flat cardboard, typically used in cereal and shoe boxes

All cardboard products can be readily recycled unless they are laminated with another material (such as plastic in the manufacture of juice cartons).

Some dealers require that the corrugated material be baled; while others will take loose material.

Tips for cardboard recycling

  • Staples do not generally have to be removed
  • Tape may have to be removed from the cardboard - check with the recycler
  • Remove food, plastic liners, waxed paper and Styrofoam
  • Contaminants such as plastics and chemicals will reduce the economic viability of recycling
  • Waxed cardboard can't be recycled

Setting up a business recycling scheme and finding a Waste Paper Merchant

There are three options available to businesses that generate cardboard:

  1. Work with your regular haulier to establish a cardboard recycling programme. They may be willing to collect cardboard, depending on the volume generated and the availability of local markets
  2. Establish a recycling service with one of the recycling companies in the area.
  3. Take your corrugated cardboard to one of the drop-off points in the county.

Easy steps to setting up a scheme:

  • Calculate how much cardboard you discard (by weight or volume) over a set period (week/month/year)
  • Calculate the current cost of disposal
  • Calculate the costs of the above three options for your situation. This will involve contacting your haulier(s) and/or local recycling services.
  • Consider other practical details, such as storage space and ease of access to your premises
  • Choose which of the above three options is most cost effective and practical.

Wastebook is a web-site with helpful recycling information, including a "checklist for reliable service" - factors that should be considered when looking for a recycling service.

What is your waste cardboard worth?

The financial value of cardboard varies enormously, depending on market conditions in Britain and worldwide, and the situation can vary from month to month. When the markets are more depressed you may have difficulty in finding a waste merchant to collect waste cardboard, but when the market picks up you can expect to make substantial savings.

Bailing or compacting can increase the value of your waste cardboard. This makes transport and storage cheaper, reduces the fire risk and adds value to the product. It also means that you can store more cardboard in a given area, thereby allowing less frequent collection - again saving money. Many companies sell balers and compactors - the links listed below have helpful information and are of companies relatively accessible to Oxfordshire.

If you only produce a small quantity of cardboard, it may be helpful to align yourself with other businesses nearby to increase the quantities available for collection.

PACKAGING REGULATIONS

The Packaging Waste Directive

The Packaging Waste Regulations came into force in 1997, putting a legal responsibility onto businesses for recycling packaging materials. They are the UK Government's approach to meeting EU recycling and recovery targets - the aim is to recover 50% of the 8 million tonnes of packaging waste produced in the UK.

Businesses are responsible only for the packaging waste passed on to the next company/person in the supply chain. For example, a distributor or wholesaler would be responsible for the cardboard boxes delivered to the retailer, a retailer would be responsible for the shrink wrapping and paper or carrier bag passed on to a consumer and so on. Packaging materials which are reused a certain number of times are exempt.

Packaging Waste Guidelines - relevance for SMEs

Your business is obligated under the Packaging Regulations only if:

  • you have an annual turnover of £2 million or more AND
  • you handle 50 tonnes or more of packaging waste per year

Although few SMEs are in this category, larger business (eg large retailers or manufacturers) need to find out details of packaging from their suppliers. The information that you may be asked for is the weight of packaging (including cardboard) associated with products that you supply. Businesses may require separate information for the packaging around individual items (primary packaging) and around batches of items (secondary packaging) and further layers if they are relevant.

What "Obligated Businesses" have to do?

Although few SMEs are obligated, those that are must follow these steps:

  1. Provide data on all packaging (weights/types etc) passed on to the next company/person in the supply chain, AND:
  2. EITHER register with the Environment Agency and undertake to fulfil their own recovery / recycling obligations, OR:
  3. Join a collective compliance scheme which will undertake to discharge its obligations

The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcing the Regulations and has published statutory guidance on how businesses will have to demonstrate compliance. For enquiries, telephone the Environment Agency on 0645 333111. Registration should be effected through the Environment Agency's dedicated Producer Responsibility Registration Unit - on 020 8305 4036.

Information and guidance can be found on the following web pages:

Once you have considered what recycling service you need, you can contact companies in the: list of cardboard recycling services in Oxfordshire

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