Recycling makes our environment cleaner, conserves materials, saves energy and reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. Every ton of recycled cardboard saves around 31 trees, 1.7 barrels of oil, 4,000 kWh of energy, 10.2 million BTUs (British Thermal Unit) of energy, 3.5 cubic meters of landfill space and 26,000 litres of water. Burning the same amount of cardboard would generate around 750 kilograms of carbon dioxide. That means recycling will save around 65 percent of the energy we need to make new cardboard and reduces the amount of water pollution by around 35 percent and air pollution by nearly 74 percent. Recycling of cardboard will only demand roughly 75 percent of the energy we need to produce new cardboard.
Paper and cardboard are made of fibres known as cellulose. Estimates show that we can recycle cardboard and paper around 4-6 times. Each time the recycling happens, the fibres become weaker and shorter and the producers have to introduce virgin pulp into the production to maintain the quality and strength of the fibres. Through the recycling process, any recovered paper and the forest-based products complement each other economically and ecologically. The recycling process varies according to the type of cardboard and the deterioration level. So, you have to sort them out depending on their deterioration before handing them over for recycling. Here are the main benefits of cardboard recycling.
Environmental conservation and reuse
As we have already stated, cardboard recycling will help minimise the amount of waste in landfills. On that basis, the recycling of cardboard improves the cleanliness of our environment and promotes a healthier surrounding. A large percentage of cardboards are made from 100 percentage-recycled materials and others average at around 90 percent or 70 percent. The materials used to make the cardboards are biodegradable and they, therefore, reduce degradation and environment footprint by offering what experts call basic solutions to the conservation of the environment. The high reuse percentage preserves natural resources.
Saves energy
Considering the high percentage of recyclability of cardboards, the amount of energy we need to produce corrugated packing products should be low. Furthermore, producers use locally available materials, which we can harvest in an environmentally friendly way, to make them. When it comes to the production and transportation costs, companies spend less and excel at delivering materials of great structural strength for protection and packaging of goods in transit. In other words, there is no need for extraneous materials or energy for the manufacture of new cardboard boxes. As a result, the recycling saves materials and energy needed to produce new cardboard. It also reduces environmental pollution.
Use of renewable materials
As we have stated above, cardboard producers add wood chips materials during the pulping. The chips are made from pine or birch tree, which offer a large percentage of recyclable materials. Even more, the trees are easier to grow in most environmental conditions and they are fast-growing compared to the hardwood trees. Because the trees are known to grow faster and they have high recyclable quality, they are easier to manage and we can harvest them sustainably, therefore, promoting the use of renewable materials.
Save the costs of disposal
Most states and municipalities have adopted various laws on waste disposal because waste from most industries is contributing highly to land pollution. That is the main reason every new company has to establish a budget for waste disposal – the amount they need to transport waste to the disposal sites. By recycling cardboard, companies are saving more money and using it in other areas. You can do that in your business too if you are ready to reduce your expenses.
Cardboard recycling in Australia
Australians use around 3.5 million tonnes of cardboard and paper each year. In fact, you are likely to find the two in most waste bins throughout the county. The waste is enough to fill around 160,000 large trailers. Disposal of cardboard and paper in landfills lead to more production of methane, which is among the major greenhouse gases. As Paul’s Rubbish Removal, we are ready to help you with the recycling part.
As we have stated, people use cardboard for various reasons. For that reason, every commercial and residential facility possesses them in large amounts. Considering the widespread usage in packaging products, cardboard waste is a key part of the garbage in most places. Our work is to prevent the depositing of the cardboard in landfills. If you have problems managing your waste, contact us today for a free quote.
Whether you need to dispose of cardboard immediately or in bulk, Paul’s Rubbish Removal are specialists in hand removing them from your property. We have several years in efficient junk removal that you can have confidence in our work. All of our collected cardboard are recycled and reused to minimise the impact on our environment. Contact us today for a fast cardboard removal service near you.
