FAQs About OCC Recycling
If your business receives a lot of items in corrugated cardboard containers, then you might want to look into recycling those containers. Corrugated cardboard can almost always be recycled, and giving it this second chance "at life" is good for the planet as it minimizes waste. To recycle corrugated cardboard, you will want to look for a recycling service that offers "OCC recycling." OCC just stands for "old corrugated cardboard." Here are some other questions you may have about this process.
Can you recycle all of your cardboard?
No, not all cardboard is recyclable. A lot of thinner cardboard items, such as coffee cups, cannot be recycled. If the cardboard is corrugated, however, then it can almost certainly be recycled at an OCC plant. Corrugated cardboard is cardboard that consists of two outer layers, plus a bunch of connecting pieces in between those layers. If you cut the corrugated cardboard, it will look like there are little stacks of cardboard inside of it. Some of the other cardboard you use or receive may also be recyclable, but typically not at an OCC recycling plant.
Will you be paid to recycle your cardboard?
Yes. Typically, an OCC recycling center will pay you for your delivery of OCC. The amount you will be paid won't be much, but it should adequately compensate you for the time it takes to deliver the cardboard to the OCC recycling center. Some OCC recycling plants will come to pick the cardboard up from you so you don't have to drop it off. In this case, the payout will be less, but you also won't have to use time or fuel to deliver the cardboard yourself.
How much OCC can you recycle?
The demand for recycled OCC is high. It can be used to make new cardboard and also paper, both of which are in high demand. So, most OCC recycling centers are happy to accept as much OCC as you can give them. If your OCC has been stacking up for a while and you have a really huge amount, you might want to call ahead and make sure they can accommodate your delivery before you arrive. If it’s too much, they might ask you to break it up into several deliveries so they have enough room to store it all.
With these questions answered, you should be more prepared to start recycling all of your old corrugated cardboard. To learn more, contact an OCC recycling service in your area such as Mid America Paper Recycling Co.
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