The single largest component of solid waste generated by businesses is cardboard. But even with huge increases in recycling initiatives over the past few decades, the amount of cardboard still being disposed of as solid waste is staggering.
Just a small section of commercial markets such as those conducting shipping operations in their facilities – department stores, supermarkets, etc. – are generating almost 30 million tons of cardboard every year, which ends up as solid waste. The good news, however, is that the number of commercial businesses that have started their own cardboard recycling programs has increased rapidly, thanks to environmental awareness. Nonetheless, more still needs to be done.
Cardboard recycling can:
- Create income from the recycled cardboard that has been sold to the recycler
- Produce massive savings in waste hauling costs
- Reduce labor requirements that are necessary for the handling and flattening of cardboard
- Improve safety and overall cleanliness in the workplace
- Reduce problems linked to the storage of used cardboard, including loss of workspace and fire hazards
Depending on the amount of cardboard that ends up as solid waste, you might need to consider changing your business’ processing routines to accommodate an effective cardboard recycling program. The fibers in cardboard boxes are strong and long; they can be used many times, thereby reducing the need to cut down trees and saving the homes of many different species of wildlife.