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The most commonly recycled cardboard is corrugated. This is the paper that is used to make shipping boxes and, well, "cardboard" boxes. Corrugated cardboard consists of two outer sheets of paper attached to an inner corrugated or wavy middle piece. This gives the cardboard its strength. Corrugated cardboard can be recycled because it is not coated with wax or chemicals.
- Corrugated cardboard is turned into a pulp by mixing it with water. The water breaks down the paper and, unfortunately, weakens it. The pulp is then combined with a pulp made from wood shavings. This combination gives the paper the strength and durability that cardboard is known for.
- Some of the new pulp is screened and dried, turning it into new cardboard. Cardboard pulp is combined with other paper pulp to make paper towels and toilet paper. It is also shredded and used in some cat litters. Recycled cardboard has many uses in creating fiber boards and manufactured wood products.
