Can Your Business Make Money From Recycling Cardboard?
Every day, businesses across the UK dispose of tonnes of cardboard packaging. While many organisations see cardboard as a waste product, it can often represent a valuable recyclable material that may help offset waste management costs.
If your business generates regular volumes of cardboard waste, understanding its recycling value could help improve both operational efficiency and environmental performance.
Does Cardboard Have Value?
In many cases, yes.
Clean, dry cardboard is a widely recycled material and can often attract rebates from recycling companies. The value available will depend on several factors, including:
- Material quality
- Volume generated
- Level of contamination
- Current market conditions
- Collection and transportation requirements
Generally speaking, larger volumes of clean cardboard are more attractive to recyclers than small amounts of loose, mixed material.
Why Loose Cardboard Can Cost Businesses Money
Many businesses store cardboard in bins, skips or waste containers before collection.
This can create several challenges:
- Valuable storage space is occupied by waste
- Collections may be required more frequently
- Transportation can become less efficient
- Cardboard may become contaminated or damaged
As waste volumes increase, these issues can lead to unnecessary operational costs.
How Do Businesses Improve the Value of Cardboard Waste?
One of the most common ways businesses improve cardboard recycling efficiency is by compacting material into dense, consistent bales.
Baled cardboard is:
- Easier to store
- Easier to transport
- Easier to handle
- More efficient to recycle
Many recycling companies prefer baled cardboard because it creates a cleaner and more consistent recycling stream. Dense, consistent bales can also make storage and transportation more efficient, helping businesses maximise the value of recyclable materials.
This is why businesses producing significant amounts of cardboard often invest in recycling equipment such as cardboard balers.
How Much Cardboard Waste Does a Business Need Before a Baler Makes Sense?
There is no single answer, as every business produces waste differently.
However, businesses operating within:
- Warehousing
- Distribution
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
Often find that as cardboard volumes increase, storing and handling loose waste becomes increasingly inefficient.
A waste audit can help determine whether a baler could improve your recycling process and reduce waste handling requirements.
Free Site Surveys – Mardon Balers
Real World Example: Wickes
At the Wickes National Distribution Centre in Northampton, 3,309 tonnes of recyclable material were processed during 2025, including:
- 2,462 tonnes of cardboard
- 847 tonnes of plastic packaging
To manage these volumes efficiently, the site uses two RamPack Fully Automatic Balers supplied and maintained by Mardon Recycling Machinery.
Read the full case study: How Wickes Processes 3,309 Tonnes of Cardboard and Plastic Waste Every Year – Mardon Balers
Other Benefits of Cardboard Recycling
The value of cardboard recycling isn’t limited to potential rebates.
Many businesses also benefit from:
- Improved housekeeping
- Reduced storage requirements
- More organised recycling areas
- Better use of available floor space
- Improved recycling performance
- Reduced manual handling requirements
As recyclable waste volumes grow, these operational efficiencies can become just as valuable as the recyclable material itself.
Looking to Improve Your Cardboard Recycling Process?
If your business generates significant volumes of cardboard waste, Mardon Recycling Machinery can help you improve recycling efficiency, reduce waste volume and create a more effective waste management process.
Arrange a free site survey today and discover how the right recycling solution could help your business save space, time and money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cardboard worth money?
Many recycling companies pay for clean cardboard, although values vary depending on quality, quantity and market conditions.
Can businesses sell cardboard waste?
Businesses producing sufficient quantities of clean cardboard may be able to receive rebates from recycling companies.
Does baling cardboard increase its value?
What is the best way to store cardboard for recycling?
Keeping cardboard clean, dry and compacted helps maximise recycling potential and improve handling efficiency.
How can businesses reduce cardboard waste costs?
Many businesses reduce waste handling costs by improving recycling processes, compacting recyclable materials and making better use of available storage space.
