How To Reduce the Cost of Cardboard Waste Disposal in 2023

14th Jul 2023

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Many of us have heard this mantra since we were schoolchildren and it set us on a path full of good intentions.

Then the reality of running a business set in.

Cost management. Staff retention. Customer acquisition.

Running a busy business has many conflicting priorities, but it all boils down to one factor – your organisation must be profitable. Sometimes that means waste disposal falls by the wayside however, 2023 has seen significantly rising costs so it’s something that cannot be ignored if a business wants to keep its costs to a minimum.

Revisiting your commercial recycling practices is a worthwhile exercise to combat soaring waste disposal costs. Cardboard is often a good starting point as your business can quickly feel the benefits of savings in time, space (and often money!) following the installation of Cardboard Balers.

Recycling boosts your eco credentials and can even open up a new revenue stream for your business. In this article, we look at how you can maximise the hidden value in your cardboard by-products and save money on waste disposal.

Make Recycling a Business Priority

To accomplish its Net Zero Strategy, the UK Government introduced various schemes to incentivise businesses to go green.

Since 1996, Landfill Tax has penalised commercial enterprises for every tonne of non-recyclables sent to landfill. As of 1 April 2023, the standard rate is £102.10 per tonne – a 3.5% rise from the previous year and a trend that’s set to continue. Reducing excess card or reusing it by turning it into eco-friendly packing materials with the aid of a cardboard shredder can save significant sums on Landfill Tax.

Recycling rebates are another financial nudge in the right direction. Professional waste management companies will either pay you for high-quality recyclables or offer you a discount on your standard waste disposal costs.

Prioritising recycling demonstrates your commitment to corporate sustainability. For today’s discerning customers, green practices can be the deciding factor when they’re choosing who to do business with.

Segregate Your Cardboard Waste from Other Recyclables

Cardboard destined for recycling should be segregated from all your other recyclables to maximise its value. Even the slightest contaminant can render an entire bale non-recyclable, which is why excess plastic tape should be removed.

Opening corrugated cardboard boxes and paperboard packaging and flattening them will help you conserve storage space until your next collection. You can do this manually however, it is much easier to utilise a Cardboard Baling Machine.

Store It Correctly

Not all cardboard can be recycled. Wishcycling may actually hamper your efforts to reduce your waste disposal costs.

Card stained by oil, grease, food, paint, or chemicals cannot be recycled. Recycling companies will not accept dirty cardboard and your business could be ordered to re-sort your materials if contaminants are found.

To ensure you’re recycling efficiently, remove contaminated sections or excessive quantities of plastic tape. Store the pieces in a dry location on your premises, free of contaminants. If space is at a premium, this could be inside the chamber of a cardboard recycling baler, which keeps everything out of sight until it’s ready for compression.

Compact Your Waste with a Cardboard Baler

Cardboard boxes are bulky, with pockets of air taking up valuable space in your commercial recycling bin. You may find you need more bins or more frequent collections, which start to add up cost-wise if boxes are not flattened first.

Investing in a cardboard baler reduces both the financial and physical burden of flattening boxes. These machines apply tremendous pressure to compact cardboard into a bundle known as a bale. Many balers also truss up the bale with baling wire, ready to be hauled away to be recycled.

Even small-to-medium businesses can benefit from a small cardboard baler since our smallest baling machines have a very small footprint and can be located inside or outside your premises (under a canopy to keep your bales dry).

As well as being easier to store, cardboard bales could be a valuable source of income for your business if you produce a high number.

Choose the Right Recycler to Maximise Returns

Reducing waste disposal costs through improved commercial recycling methods is only half of the equation. Unwanted cardboard can also be a valuable revenue stream to a business.

A QCR Waste Expert can introduce you to a trusted Recycler who will arrange the collection of your cardboard waste and help you maximise your returns. They’re located across the county so benefit from local knowledge. With over 4000 customers nationwide, we will only recommend reliable and trustworthy Recyclers.