Cardboard
How to recycle
The main types of cardboard we use at home are corrugated cardboard, which is used for parcels, and cardboard used to package your shopping – like cereal boxes, egg cartons, ready meal sleeves etc. Both types can be recycled but councils sometimes collect them separately.
What types of cardboard can be recycled?
All of these types of cardboard can be recycled but card that is greasy or contaminated with food (like really oily pizza boxes) can’t be.
- Cardboard boxes
- Corrugated cardboard
- Egg boxes
- Toothpaste boxes
- Tissue boxes
- Deliveries packaging
- Pizza boxes (but not if they’re really greasy)
Why oily card and paper can't be recycled
When paper and cardboard are recycled, they are mixed with water and turned into slurry. Grease from pizza boxes causes oil to form at the top of the slurry which results in the paper fibres not separating from the oils during the pulping process. When the water is squeezed out at the end to form new paper, it has spots and holes in it and so can’t be used.
Related items...
Cardboard boxes
Cardboard packaging
Greetings cards
Coffee cups
