Information on Recycling Cardboard



Page Contents: What is Considered "Cardboard"? Massachusetts Laws and Regulations Benefits of Recycling Cardboard Recycling Tips Donation Information Recyclers Listing Facts & Figures Associated Links
What is Considered "Cardboard"? Corrugated "cardboard" is a strong, versatile packaging material that is universally accepted for recovery and recycling. Corrugated packaging material is generally referred to by the general public as “cardboard” and by the industry as Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC). The term “OCC” is used in this document. OCC is made from two strips of flat cardboard on the top and bottom, and a wavy “corrugated” or fluted strip running through the center. It is most commonly found in boxes used for packaging and shipping items. Paperboard (flat, pressed, stiff paper used in cereal boxes, for example)--also often called cardboard by the general public--does not have flutes, is of a lower quality paper, and is often coated. Paperboard, by definition, is not OCC and, therefore, should be kept to a minimum in an OCC collection program. Examples of common OCC include cases or ream boxes (cardboard shipping containers for reams of copy paper, products, stationery, supplies, equipment, or publications) and are roughly 10”Hx10”Wx12”L. Some OCC boxes have matching lids, while others have flaps that are sealed shut. Gaylords are larger, heavy-duty shipping container versions of these boxes, often with lids and on pallets. OCC comes in other sizes and shapes depending on their requirements, including non-box form, for packing, cushioning or other uses. BACK TO THE TOP
Massachusetts Laws And Regulations The Solid Waste Management Facility Regulations, 310 CMR 19.00, were promulgated July 1, 1990. As outlined in these regulations in Section 19.017(3), restrictions on the disposal of “recyclable paper”, including old corrugated cardboard (OCC), from landfilling or incineration took affect as of December 31, 1994. While generators of these materials are not monitored for recycling OCC, haulers that transport OCC to incinerators or landfills may be turned away per the waste ban for carrying this material. BACK TO THE TOP
Benefits of Recycling: · Save Money: Since old corrugated cardboard (OCC) is bulky and takes up a lot of space in dumpsters--especially if unflattened--businesses that generate large volumes of OCC may find it cost effective to bale or compact the material. And, depending upon the market, businesses make actually make a profit on the sale of collected OCC. At the very least, businesses may eliminate disposal fees by preparing it for hauler pickups or delivering it (dropoff) to a recycling facility. · Provide Social Benefits: Donations of reusable corrugated boxes can be made to charities for reuse, or to school recycle/reuse centers for creative and educational purposes. See “Donation Information” below. Also, recycling OCC reduces the need for new paper from virgin pulp, which in turn decreases the amount of pollution generated in paper production and creates jobs. · Divert Material from Disposal: OCC is a bulky, highly recyclable waste. Keeping this material out of the waste stream will mean saving landfill space in areas where disposed materials are landfilled and reducing pollution through avoided incineration where waste is incinerated. BACK TO THE TOP
Recycling Tips: How a business chooses to recycle its corrugated will depend to a large extent on the volume of old corrugated cardboard (OCC) generated. Businesses generating small volumes of OCC generally do not have sufficient quantities to sell or give it directly to a market and will likely find it most practical to work with a hauler offering OCC recycling services. In this case, small quantities (under one hundred pounds) might be collected, flattened and placed loose in a collection container (for example, a 2-, 4-, 6- or 8-yard metal box, or a toter—a barrel on wheels), or tied in stacks or on pallets, depending upon the hauler’s needs and the business’ available storage space and accessibility. If your business is small and in the Boston-area, check the Small Business Recycling Services Directory: Boston-Area online. To receive a hardcopy of this publication, call WasteCap at 617-236-7715. Since OCC is bulky and takes up a lot of space in dumpsters- especially if unflattened, businesses that generate large volumes of OCC may find it cost effective to bale or compact the material. Contact WasteCap (617-236-7715) or check recycler listings in the Recycling Services Directory and Markets Guide for Massachusetts under “Paper” for information on compactors (large metal collection containers with a hydraulic device to compress materials until full for pickup and replacement) and balers (machines used to compress materials to be tied with wire or strapping into hundred-or-more-pound cubes). Note: the method of collecting, processing and storing OCC should be determined with the help of hauler so that OCC is prepared in a way that the hauler can retrieve it efficiently. For example, it may be more cost-effective and easier for both a business generating tons of OCC and a hauler serving the business if the latter stores numerous bales for infrequent, large-quantity collections, than for the hauler to pick up individual bales frequently. To sell your used corrugated: · Contact the Yellow Pages under “waste paper”. · Contact the American Forest and Paper Association, which publishes a directory of waste paper dealers and recycling centers (202-463-2700). · Call the Corrugated Packaging Council's (CPC) toll-free number (800-879-9777) for technical assistance regarding the recycling of OCC. The Corrugated Packaging Council (CPC) (www.corrugated.org) is a non-partisan, non-profit coalition that develops and coordinates industry-wide programs to address corrugated packaging issues. CPC's mission is to inform consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and government of corrugated packaging's performance and environmental attributes. · Check WasteCap’s Recycling Services Directory and Markets Guide for Massachusetts, online or in hardcopy form (617-236-7715) To get the best prices for OCC and to ensure proper recycling: · Separate any contaminants from the corrugated, including strapping, plastic bags, Styrofoam®, food waste or floor sweepings. Dealers pay the highest price for clean corrugated. · Remove any boxes that should not be recycled, especially any that are contaminated by toxic or hazardous materials. Boxes cannot be recycled if they have been treated with plastic extrusions or laminates, wax coatings, etc. · Some dealers and mills will accept loose material, but large bales are generally preferred.
Potential contaminants:
	Contaminants that can cause a load of recyclable OCC to be rejected by a hauler or market include staples, other types of paper, too much tape, yellow corrugated “Asian” cardboard, waxed cardboard, food scraps or stains, and/or plastic packaging materials. Paperboard (flat, pressed, stiff paper used in cereal boxes, for example)--also often called cardboard by the general public--does not have flutes, is of a lower quality paper, and is often coated. Paperboard, by definition, is not OCC and, therefore, should be kept to a minimum in an OCC collection program. “Yellow” corrugated cardboard refers to the cardboard that was manufactured in Asia and has a high percentage of recycled fiber content. Because of the high recycled fiber content, it is yellow in color, weaker, and less valuable to recyclers than other corrugated cardboard and is therefore usually rejected by haulers and markets.
Collection methods:
	As boxes are emptied, flatten them and remove potential contaminants. Tie in flattened stacks 3’x3’x3’ (if small quantities) on pallets or not, as determined by the hauler, or bring them to the designated storage container to be picked up by the hauler or (if large quantities) to the appropriate machine for processing into bales or compaction in a compactor to be picked up.
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Donation Information: A few organizations may accept reusable OCC boxes, including cases or ream boxes (cardboard shipping containers which contain reams of copy paper), other shipping containers, or gaylords (large, heavy-duty OCC containers, often with lids and on pallets) for reuse. Contact local food pantries, shelters, and other non-profits. Contact WasteCap for a copy of the Massachusetts Business’ Guide to Reuse. Look under “packaging” for those that accept OCC for reuse. BACK TO THE TOP
Recyclers Listing for Cardboard *The Recycling Services Directory and Market Guide for Massachusetts:* This online Directory lists vendors who accept, collect, or purchase recyclable materials from Massachusetts communities and businesses. Hardcopies of the Directory are available upon request. Updated May, 2001. BACK TO THE TOP
Facts & Figures: Over 90% of all products in the U.S. are shipped in corrugated cardboard boxes. 70% of all corrugated is recovered for recycling—the largest source of waste paper collected for recycling. Corrugated is often made of recycled content and almost always made of post-consumer material. Corrugated packaging allows significant source reduction by eliminating the need for overwraps and secondary packaging. It also can be engineered for increased strength using less raw materials, a process called “lightweighting”. Corrugated is more environmentally friendly than ever, able to accept non-toxic water-based inks and also to be processed without bleaching. After it’s recycled, paper (including OCC) is used to make chipboard, paperboard (i.e., cereal boxes), paper towels, tissues, and printing and writing paper. Ozone-depleting chemicals have been virtually eliminated from the manufacture of OCC; the use of heavy metals has been dramatically reduced; over 97% of inks on boxes are now water-based and non-toxic; and virtually all box plant trimmings (waste from manufacturing) are recycled. Even raw materials used to make OCC—lumber industry byproducts such as sawdust and wood chips—are renewable resources. Making the pulp from trees for use in corrugated cardboard creates sulfur dioxide pollution. Recycling corrugated cardboard into new products cuts the pollution generated by half. Corrugated cardboard manufactured from recycled pulp uses about 75% of the energy used in the manufacture of corrugated cardboard made from virgin pulp. Corrugated packaging is a $17 billion per-year industry—the largest segment of the entire packaging industry. In 1999, 45% of all the paper Americans used, including corrugated cardboard, was recovered—47.3 million tons, an all-time record. Americans are well on the way to meeting the American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA’s) goal of recovery of 50% of all paper used in the U.S. BACK TO THE TOP
Associated Links: American Forest & Paper Association: www.afandpa.org AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry. They represent member companies engaged in growing, harvesting and processing wood and wood fiber, manufacturing pulp, paper and paperboard products form both virgin and recycled fiber, and producing engineered and traditional wood products. Association of Independent Corrugated Converters: www.aiccbox.org The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) is an international trade association whose purpose is to protect and represent the business interests of the independent sector of the corrugated packaging industry. AICC represents independent corrugated packaging manufacturers and their suppliers. Corrugated Packaging Council: www.corrugated.org The Corrugated Packaging Council (CPC) is a non-partisan, non-profit coalition that develops and coordinates industry-wide programs to address corrugated packaging issues. CPC's mission is to inform consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and government of corrugated packaging's performance and environmental attributes. Fibre Box Association: www.fibrebox.org The Fibre Box Association (FBA) is a non-profit organization representing and serving the corrugated industry. It brings together the industry's North American manufacturers to improve the overall well-being of the industry and to provide an array of services that enable member companies to conduct their business more effectively, responsibly and efficiently. BACK TO THE TOP