Post-use corrugated packaging material is commonly known as “cardboard", while it is typically referred to as OCC. Corrugated cardboard can easily be recognized by its multiple layer structure; the fluted or wavy middle layer between sheets of paper keeps corrugated board light and gives it the strength to carry products. If OCC is kept dry and clean, recycling is straightforward as long as all non-paper materials such as bubble wrap, wood skids, plastic bags, plastic wrapping and Styrofoam are removed.
On average, a corrugated box contains roughly 50 percent recycled fiber. Around 51 percent of OCC is used to make new corrugated board, will 11.5 percent is used for boxboard materials, such as cereal boxes. Around 32 percent of recycled OCC is exported.
Corrugated cardboard recycling is beneficial to everyone for a number of reasons. Recycling old corrugated cardboard reduces water usage along with greenhouse gas emissions. This is because new boxes and containers can be made from the recycled material instead of being made from new materials. Recycling also reduces virgin timber demand, which is timber taken from an uncultivated forest. To make one tone of cardboard, it takes about three tons of virgin timber; recycling reduces this demand, saving nine cubic yards of landfill space for every ton that’s recycled.
