How to dispose of cardboard boxes correctly
Cardboard boasts an impressive recycling rate of around 80%. This ensures an eco-friendly approach to shipping materials and packaging waste. However, this only works if boxes are disposed of correctly and professionally. By disposing of your cardboard properly, you make a significant contribution to reducing environmental impact. Producing new paper and board requires vast resources such as wood, water, and energy. By ensuring your old boxes are recyclable, you act sustainably in your daily life. But how do you dispose of cardboard correctly, and what should you look out for? We reveal all in this article.
Our tip: Even more effective and sustainable is the use of used cardboard boxes. You don't always have to throw them away immediately. You can give intact boxes a second life, reducing the need to manufacture new ones. This applies to businesses with large volume requirements too—used boxes from overproduction and surplus stock can be ordered at excellent prices from RENUBOX.
Why you should dispose of cardboard professionally
As mentioned, the recycling rate for paper and cardboard is very high. Around 80% is sent for recovery. While it is rarely possible to recycle without adding some fresh fibres, recycling cardboard remains immensely important and offers numerous benefits:

- Recycling properly discarded boxes prevents harmful waste.
- Fewer new boxes need to be produced.
- Reduced production means saving resources like wood, water, and energy.
Disposing of boxes professionally increases the recycling rate. However, there are rules to follow. What belongs in the recycling bin and what doesn't? And how do you prepare cardboard for disposal?
Dispose of cardboard waste the right way
We often throw cardboard, paper, and anything similar into the paper recycling bin. However, not all types of cardboard belong there. For instance, any coated packaging belongs in plastic recycling or general waste, not with paper. Heavily soiled materials also cannot be recycled. Furthermore, before disposing of a box, ensure you remove labels and packing tape. This makes the recycling process significantly easier.
You can dispose of these in the paper recycling bin:
- Cardboard boxes
- Newspapers
- Letters
- Writing paper, copier paper
- Books (soft covers)
- Catalogues, magazines, brochures, leaflets
Do NOT put these in the paper recycling bin:
- Cardboard packaging with food residue (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- Coated cartons (e.g., milk or juice cartons)
- Baking paper
- Napkins, kitchen roll, or tissues
- Composite packaging, such as envelopes with plastic windows (separate these first)
For larger quantities of cardboard, it is best to use local recycling centres or public paper banks. This saves space in your own bin. Whether at home or at a recycling centre, always remember to break down and flatten boxes to save space.
The challenge for businesses
Companies that need to dispose of large volumes of cardboard often face challenges. Usually, an external waste management company must be hired to provide a skip or compactor, which incurs high costs. Long transport distances are common. Simultaneously, staff must spend time flattening boxes, which ties up valuable labour capacity. Disposing of boxes always involves effort for a business.
RENUBOX offers a simple solution. We buy surplus stock and boxes from overproduction from various companies to offer them as used packaging in our online shop. Every box that would otherwise have been discarded finds a useful purpose again. Naturally, all boxes are fully intact. We stock around 2,500 different formats of used boxes.
Compared to recycling after a single use, using second-hand boxes saves even more valuable resources. It reduces the demand for new packaging and saves the fresh fibres (often around 20%) that must be added to recycled pulp. Used boxes are therefore exceptionally eco-friendly and economical.

Eventually, even a sturdy box reaches the end of its life cycle. Now you know exactly how to dispose of it optimally. However, before you throw boxes away, we are happy to advise you on selling your used boxes or assisting you with purchasing used packaging. Get in touch with us today.
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