Reuse, recycle or compost? The best way to dispose of your used cardboard boxes

With over 1200 different sizes of cardboard boxes and postal boxes to choose from, we’re confident we’ll always have a box to suit your needs – whatever the size and shape of the product. But what do you do with the used box once a product has arrived safely?
At Rajapack, we are often asked about the best way to dispose of used cardboard boxes, which is why we decided to create a blog post about just that, so you can learn more about where and how to either recycle or best dispose of your used cardboard boxes.

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A starting guide in cardboard and corrugated board

But what exactly is a cardboard box? If you’re not familiar with cardboard boxes and how they’re constructed, here’s a brief introduction to start with.

First of all, what does corrugated cardboard mean? Corrugated cardboard is, as the word suggests, corrugated cardboard that lies between the two layers of liner. The shape and spacing of the corrugations can vary and they help define the strength of the cardboard box. More corrugations mean greater robustness. The surrounding layers are usually made of kraftliner. They provide support and solidity to the corrugated board running between them and can also act as a partial moisture and water repellent. The kraftliner allows writing on the boxes, so you can easily identify them and their contents. In short, corrugated board is the structure of cardboard, and all Rajapack boxes are made of corrugated board.

Can corrugated board be recycled?

Corrugated cardboard is one of the most popular types of cardboard, and at Rajapack you will find it particularly in our range of cardboard boxes and postal boxes. The corrugated board provides both high stability and good resistance to shocks and impacts, and together with the two layers of kraftliner, the boxes are strong and resistant.

The big question is whether you can recycle corrugated board. And the answer is “Yes, absolutely!” The great thing about corrugated board is that it can be 100% recycled and turned into new cardboard boxes and other cardboard products. By recycling your cardboard boxes, you save trees, but also the energy and raw materials it takes to make new boxes and other cardboard products.

In RAJA’s product range we have a number of environmentally friendly packaging, including our boxes which are made from min. 70% recycled fibres. In fact, the recycling cycle for corrugated board is so efficient that used boxes can be transformed and ready for recycling in just two weeks!

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Our sales team is often asked where cardboard boxes can be handed in for recycling, and we recommend that companies make use of the cardboard containers specifically designed for cardboard, which are usually attached to the waste sorting system on the premises. Recycling centres across the country also accept cardboard boxes. You can read more about the official sorting criteria for cardboard here.

Is cardboard biodegradable?

If a material is biodegradable, this means that it decomposes naturally and over time becomes compost without harming the environment. Food waste, for example, is highly biodegradable and usually transforms in a short time.

Cardboard is also a biodegradable material and corrugated cardboard breaks down and composts naturally. How long this takes depends on where it is and in what condition. It will decompose faster if it is wet and broken into small pieces, so you can easily put it in your own compost heap at home. Just remember to break it up into smaller pieces and make sure it’s well soaked.

How to get rid of your cardboard boxes

When you no longer need a cardboard box, it’s quick and easy to compress it so it can be properly stored, ready for recycling or prepared for compost.

The first thing to do is remove any plastic or packing tape from the box. This has usually been used to seal the box and therefore runs along the top and bottom of the flaps. It’s easy to tear off the box and can be thrown in with your normal rubbish.

If paper tape was used to seal the box, you can leave it in place and recycle it with the box. If you compost the box, the paper tape will decompose with the cardboard and you can leave it in place with a clear conscience. This is why paper tape is more environmentally friendly than plastic tape.

Once the non-degradable tape has been removed, you can easily flatten the box. Make sure the top and bottom flaps are folded out, then press 2 diagonally placed corners together. This way the box folds up and you now have a flat box which is much easier to store, or transport in the same way as you know it from newly purchased moving boxes. If you want to reuse your box, make sure you store it in a dry place, as wet boxes become porous and therefore difficult to recycle.

If you would like more information about our range of corrugated boxes and mailers, help and advice on buying packaging or further knowledge on how to dispose of your used items, our team of experts are on hand both on tel: 44 58 77 00 and at info@rajapck.dk.