Ways to Recycle Cardboard Boxes
Corrugated cardboard boxes are used at homes, in schools and at businesses. Boxes made from cardboard may be reused multiple times as they are strong and useful. It is also cheaper to crush and recycle corrugated cardboard than to pay for the waste disposal of bulky boxes. All clean cardboard boxes may be recycled and made into various new paper products again and again. Does this Spark an idea?
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Recycling
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Cardboard boxes are one of the most common products to recycle. Sort the boxes into non-corrugated and corrugated piles. Corrugated cardboard is easy to recognize, as it is thicker and typically used for moving and appliance boxes. Crush cardboard boxes flat and make sure they are free of grease and toxic residues before taking them to a recycling center or placing them out for curbside recycling pick up. Store the boxes in a dry location, as wet cardboard is often not accepted.
Reuse in the Garden
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Cardboard boxes are considered to be biodegradable, thus are useful in the garden. Use clean cardboard boxes to line a compost heap and they eventually break down naturally. Tear cardboard into smaller pieces and place it around plants as mulch. The cardboard mulch acts as an insulating barrier to keep moisture from evaporating, reducing the number of times you need to water your plants. Eventually the cardboard breaks down and becomes part of the soil.
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Reuse for Crafts
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Children love playing with large corrugated cardboard boxes. Appliance boxes only need a window or two cut out of them to instantly become play forts or magical castles. Let children paint or color the boxes as they wish in order to make the play house more interesting. Decorate smaller boxes with paint, paper or stickers and use them to store toys and small items.
Reuse for Mail or Moving
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Before disposing of or crushing a box for recycling, ask friends and family if they need the boxes for mailing items, storage or moving. It is usually not difficult to find people who are actively looking for good, strong boxes. If you have multiple corrugated boxes, consider posting them for free on the Internet, as moving boxes are often sought out and appreciated.
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References
Resources
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Comments
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I have some cardboard that got wet. Can I spend a few weeks drying it out and then throw it in the recycle bin once it is dry?
