Cardboard Boxes in the Bag
Cardboard boxes are widely recycled, however, when they get wet or are contaminated with oil, liquid or food waste, it’s often not possible to recycle them.
To address this issue, Conwy Council in Wales is issuing all households with a recycling bag specifically for cardboard boxes. This keeps the boxes separate from other recycled packaging. What’s more, the reusable bags can be sealed, so any cardboard stored inside is protected from the rain. As a result, a higher volume of corrugated cardboard is suitable for recycling.
This step is in line with the Confederation of Paper Industries perspective, which is expressed by Executive Director Dimitria Rappou, “the only way to enhance recycling systems is by increasing both the quantity and the quality of recyclable materials via separate collections for paper and card.”
Only Flattened Boxes Fit
Residents are encouraged to flatten boxes and break up larger sections of cardboard, so it fits into the bags. This helps to streamline collections and prevents large boxes from being left behind because there is insufficient space on the lorry.
We’d love to see this scheme rolled out across the UK to increase the already high recycling rates for corrugated cardboard. However, the British Government favours ‘simpler recycling’ where all recyclables are disposed of in the same bin. This may encourage household recycling, however, there is a greater risk of contamination that makes the material unsuitable for processing.
