In the United States, around 80% of all products sold are packaged in cardboard. However, a shocking 850 million tons of paper and cardboard are thrown away and end up in landfills across the United States annually. The EPA estimates that paper and cardboard materials represent the largest component of municipal solid waste. Why does this matter? If you aren’t disposing of your cardboard properly, you’re missing an opportunity to be more environmentally friendly and give your neighbors equal opportunity to use the recycling bins.
To optimize the space in recycling container(s), always break down your cardboard waste. Follow these easy steps
- Take your box and turn it upside down. Run a box cutter, scissors or a knife along the center bottom seam, slicing through the packing tape.
- Repeat this under the two flaps on each end of the box, freeing the tape at the edges.
- Pull all four flaps straight up so that all edges on either end move freely up and down.
- Lightly push and twist in until the box collapses on itself—flattened and ready to be stacked in your container.
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