Yes, recycling cardboard is profitable. Cardboard recycling is the process of breaking down used or unused cardboard into smaller pieces that can be used to create new products. The most common type of cardboard recycling is corrugated cardboard, which is the type of cardboard that is used to make shipping boxes.
Cardboard recycling has many benefits. One benefit is that it reduces waste in landfills. In the United States, about 69 million tons of paper and paperboard were sent to landfills in 2017 ( EPA). This number includes both recyclable and non-recyclable materials. When these materials are recycled instead of being sent to a landfill, they take up less space and decompose more slowly.
Another benefit of cardboard recycling is that it conserves energy and resources. Recycling one ton of corrugated cardboard saves 9 cubic yards of landfill space (EPA). In addition, recycle mills use 50% less energy than virgin pulp mills (How Stuff Works).
Finally, another benefit to consider is that it creates jobs. According to the National Recycling Coalition, there are approximately 1 million people employed in therecycling industry in the United States .
While there are many benefits to recycling cardboard, one potential downside is the cost. It can be expensive to set up a system to recycle this material if your business doesn’t already have one in place. However, with government incentives and an increase in public demand for sustainable packaging , investing in a cardboard recycling program may be worth considering for your business .