How to Recycle Cardboard Moving Boxes

After your move, once you’ve finished unpacking, you’ll need to decide what to do with your moving boxes. While tossing them in the garbage is an easy solution, it’s not the only one. Landfill waste is a major source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas So rather than throw them out, many homeowners choose to recycle their moving boxes instead. To help make your relocation as low-impact as possible, we’ll share a few pointers, explaining how to recycle cardboard moving boxes, as well as a few other eco-friendly ways to dispose of them.

How to Recycle Moving Boxes

While recycling centers are a common feature of most urban and suburban areas, machinery and resources can differ significantly from one location to another. As a result, not every center accepts all types of material. Check with your city’s waste management department before bringing boxes to your local recycling center, to make sure they can process them. Before you go, prepare your boxes by:

• Emptying Them Completely. Besides removing your belongings, make sure there aren't any stray bits of Styrofoam or plastic packing material inside.
• Flattening Them. Flattening boxes makes them easier to stack and process. Start by slicing open the packing tape holding the seams together. Paper tape is recyclable, but if you used plastic tape, you’ll have to discard it. Next, pull the flaps straight up, so all the edges move freely up and down. Finally, push and twist the box until it collapses in on itself.
• Removing Contaminants. Cut any greasy, oily, or moldy cardboard out of your boxes. Any parts with wax, heavy dyes, and protective coatings also need to be sliced off, since they won’t dissolve properly in pulping machines. Wet cardboard is also considered contaminated, so any damp sections will need to be removed as well.
• Bundling. Tying cardboard together makes it easier to carry, manage, and process. It also prevents it from being blown away by the wind. Though not required by every recycling center, bundling makes hauling and transporting flattened boxes noticeably easier.

Some cities have curbside pickup, so once you’ve finished prepping your boxes, all you have to do is place them next to your recycling bins. If not, you’ll have to drive them to your nearest recycling center and drop them off in person.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Recycling

While recycling your moving boxes helps lessen the environmental impact of your move, there are several other ways to dispose of them. Depending on the condition of your boxes, you can:

• Donate Them. Moving boxes are lightweight but incredibly durable. Made from reinforced cardboard, they can be reused several times without significant wear and tear. After you’re done unpacking, ask around to see if anyone you know is moving and could use some extra boxes. You can also create a post on Nextdoor, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace, where people go to sell and share items with other members of their community.
• Repurpose Them. Cardboard moving boxes can be used for more than just shipping material. You can use them as closet organizers, gift boxes, or long term storage containers. If you enjoy arts and crafts, you can transform them into cardboard forts for your children or playhouses for your pets. Some homeowners turn them into eco-friendly planters or use them as cardboard backing, to keep paintings, posters, and photos from drooping inside picture frames.
• Compost Them. Breaking down cardboard organically helps enrich your soil structure. It also produces fewer greenhouse gases. (Compost heaps are rich in oxygen, which is toxic to methanogens.) First, remove any plastic, labels, and staples from your boxes. Then cut out any areas that are waxy or heavily dyed, since colored inks may contain heavy metals. Finally, cut or tear the boxes into smaller pieces and place them in your compost heap. Cardboard is carbon-rich, so arrange it in layers with other “brown” materials such as straw, leaves, and wood chips, in between “green” layers made of nitrogen-rich material, such as food scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds.

Final Thoughts

There are several ways to dispose of moving boxes. While throwing them out is the most convenient option, recycling is an increasingly popular choice, especially for homeowners concerned about the environment. Recycling reduces waste while making it possible to construct new boxes without the wood, water, and resources required to manufacture fresh cardboard. Even if your area doesn’t have a robust recycling program, you can always donate, compost, or reuse your boxes instead of tossing them in the garbage can. Making your move eco-friendly takes a bit of work, but helps preserve the environment for future generations.

North American Moving Services

North American Van Lines has supported homeowners for nearly a century. Our full-service relocation teams are trained to work efficiently, boxing, shipping, and setting up your new home as quickly as possible, which helps keep your move stress-free and organized. Contact us today for a free quote!