Cardboard recycling: how it works and how businesses get paid for it
Cardboard recycling works by soaking used cardboard in water to make pulp, cleaning the fibres and pressing them into new board. Paper and cardboard is the most recycled packaging material in the UK, at 80.3% in 2025 on provisional figures. For a business, clean baled cardboard is a product that paper mills pay for.
Cardboard recycling: key facts
| UK paper and cardboard packaging recycled | 80.3% in 2025, on provisional figures from Defra |
|---|---|
| Amount thrown away | 4.84 million tonnes in 2024, more than any other packaging material |
| Times it can be recycled | About five to seven, before the fibres become too short |
| Trade name | OCC, short for old corrugated containers |
| Rule for workplaces in England | Paper and cardboard must be kept out of general waste since 31 March 2025 |
How is cardboard recycled?
- Collection and sorting. Cardboard is separated from other paper and checked for contamination.
- Baling. It is pressed into bales for transport to a paper mill.
- Pulping. The mill soaks the bales in water and stirs them into a pulp.
- Cleaning. Screens remove tape, staples and plastic.
- Pressing and drying. The pulp is spread out, pressed and dried into large reels of new paper.
- Converting. The reels are made into new corrugated board and boxes.
The packaging maker DS Smith says a used box can be back on the shelf as a new one within 14 days.
Which cardboard can be recycled?
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| Corrugated boxes | Wet or greasy cardboard |
| Cereal boxes and other thin card | Waxed cardboard |
| Cardboard tubes and egg boxes | Card lined with foil or plastic |
| Boxes with tape, labels or staples left on | Drinks cartons, which are collected separately |
Commercial cardboard recycling
A business can have cardboard collected loose, in bins or cages, or baled. The choice depends on volume.
- Loose. Suits shops, offices and restaurants. You pay for each collection.
- Baled with a small baler. Suits retailers and pubs that fill several bins a week. Bales take up less room and need fewer collections.
- Mill size bales. Bales of roughly 400 to 600 kilograms are the size mills prefer. Warehouses and manufacturers that produce these are usually paid for them.
Buyers grade cardboard under a European standard, EN 643. Clean corrugated cardboard is grade 1.05 and earns the most. Mixed paper and board is grade 1.02 and earns less. In England, the Simpler Recycling rules also require workplaces to keep paper and cardboard apart from general waste.
What is cardboard worth?
In July 2026 the average UK export value of waste cardboard was £119 a tonne. A buyer will offer less than this, because the figure includes baling and shipping.
The price moves with demand from paper mills in the UK, Europe and Asia. Dry, clean, well baled cardboard always earns the best price. See the current cardboard prices, or read our guide on how to sell cardboard waste. To find a collection, see cardboard recycling near me.
Related guides
- Commercial cardboard recycling: from cost centre to rebate
- Cardboard waste collection: choosing a service that fits
- Cardboard baler: when one pays for itself
- Baler machine: choosing one for the material you have
- Cardboard compactor: when a compactor beats a baler
Frequently asked questions
Is cardboard recyclable?
Yes. Clean, dry cardboard is one of the easiest materials to recycle, and almost every council and waste company collects it. Only wet, greasy, waxed or foil lined cardboard cannot be recycled.
How many times can cardboard be recycled?
About five to seven times. The fibres get shorter each time, so mills blend recycled pulp with some new fibre to keep the board strong.
Do I need to remove tape and staples?
No. Paper mills screen out tape, labels and staples during pulping. Do remove plastic wrap, polystyrene and other packing.
What does OCC mean?
OCC stands for old corrugated containers. It is the trade name for used corrugated cardboard boxes, and the grade that most cardboard prices refer to.
Is a cardboard baler worth it?
It usually is for a business that fills several large bins a week. Baling cuts the number of collections, saves space and produces bales that recyclers will often collect free or pay for.
Can pizza boxes be recycled?
Only the clean parts. Tear off any section stained with grease or food, because oil cannot be removed in the recycling process.
How does cardboard recycling work?
Used cardboard is soaked in water to make pulp. The fibres are cleaned, then pressed and dried into new board.