Cardboard: From Boxes to New Beginnings

Mountain of Cardboard at WRG. Can you see our skid-steer hiding?

Cardboard is one of the most common—and most valuable—materials we recycle at Western Resources Group. From shipping boxes to cereal packages, cardboard is everywhere in our daily lives.

When cardboard is tossed into the landfill, it takes up valuable space and breaks down slowly, releasing methane gas. But when recycled, it’s turned into new products like fresh boxes, paperboard, or even building materials.

WRG can accept nearly all cardboard at our collection locations and at our facility. In order to maximize the space in the collection containers PLEASE COLLAPSE ALL BOXES. We can NOT accept cardboard that has grease(pizza boxes) or wax (some produce boxes) on them.

Pressboard/Chipboard/Paperboard Cardboard such as Kleenex, Cracker and Cookie boxes, 6,12 & 24 Packs, cereal, cardboard tubes etc. can be placed in the cardboard bins as well.

Please be sure to remove ALL Styrofoam, plastic wrap and other packing material from the boxes (be sure to place those items in a Hefty ReNew Bag to recycle) before placing in the bins. Avoid boxes with a wax layer such as: milk cartons, juice boxes etc.

Tips for Recycling Cardboard Right:

• Flatten boxes to save space.

• Keep it dry and free of food residue.

• Skip greasy pizza boxes—they belong in the trash.

At WRG, we process thousands of tons of cardboard every year, helping save trees, water, and energy. So next time you break down a box, remember—it’s the first step in giving cardboard a second life.