Cardboard Recycling for Businesses: The Complete Guide

Cardboard is the backbone of commercial recycling. Nearly every business generates it, from retail stockrooms to manufacturing plants to distribution centers. And yet, most businesses handle it inefficiently, throwing loose boxes into dumpsters and paying to haul mostly empty space.

Baling cardboard is the single most effective way to reduce waste costs. A standard baler can compress hundreds of loose boxes into a dense 1,000-pound bale that takes up a fraction of the space. Learn more about materials we recycle and what else you can bale alongside cardboard.

What Cardboard Bales Are Worth

Baled cardboard has real market value. Prices fluctuate based on global commodity markets, but clean, dry OCC (old corrugated cardboard) bales consistently command positive pricing. RME tracks market rates and passes that value back to you through rebates. Instead of paying to dispose of cardboard, you can earn from it.

The EPA reports that paper and paperboard account for the largest category of generated waste in the U.S., making cardboard recovery one of the highest-impact recycling moves any business can make.

Best Practices for Cardboard Baling

Keep cardboard dry, wet cardboard loses value and can contaminate an entire bale. Remove plastic packing materials, foam, and food waste before baling. Break down boxes fully so they feed into the baler cleanly. Store finished bales under cover until pickup.

Equipment Options

RME helps you select the right baler for your volume. For moderate cardboard volumes, a vertical baler is often sufficient. For high-volume operations, a horizontal baler with automated feeding may make more sense. We cover this in how our system works.

Want to know what your cardboard is actually worth? schedule a free onsite assessment and we'll evaluate your stream.