How to Recycle Old Corrugated Cardboard in Mokena, Illinois
Mokena, Illinois Cardboard Recycling. Corrugated cardboard is the highest value grade of paper, its durability and strength takes long paper fibers to create. This explains why it has the highest recycling rate out of paper products.
Cardboard Recycling Preparation for Your Mokena, Illinois Business
Most corrugated cardboard is used for shipping, you will want to remove any shipping materials such as packing peanuts, plastic bags, and bubble wrap. The boxes must be flattened to save space and start preparation for the recycling process.
For boxes that contained huge items, you may need to fold or cut the flattened box in half for it to fit in your recycling cart or bailer. Most importantly, do not let the corrugated cardboard get wet. Wet cardboard does not have a recycling market. Food soiled boxes, the easiest example is pizza boxes. These food soiled boxes cannot be recycled either.
Why Recycle Cardboard in Mokena, Illinois?
Over half of the cardboard collected is used to make new cardboard boxes, and additional cardboard can be downcycled into paperboard used for cereal boxes or chipboard used for shoeboxes. Making one-ton of cardboard requires three-tons of trees, recycling one-ton of cardboard eliminates nine cubic yards of landfill space, corrugated cardboard can be recycled many times.
Do I need to remove tape and labels from the box? No. These materials get filtered out during the recycling process, as does ink.
What is the Difference Between Corrugated Cardboard and Paperboard?
The term “cardboard” is used for most boxes, but shipping boxes are officially known as corrugated cardboard. The corrugated piece is the extra layer of fiber that zigzags between the brown sheets, making it tougher to tear and sturdier for shipping. Paperboard is thinner and less durable, used for cereal boxes. These are two different grades of paper with different commodity values, even though you might call both cardboard.
Why Can’t Wet Cardboard be Recycled?
Even though the paper recycling process introduces water, when you get paper wet and it dries, it manipulates the fibers (as a result, it feels stiffer). Paper mills also do not want to pay for wet paper because it is heavier with the extra water weight.
How is Mokena, Illinois Corrugated Cardboard Recycled?
The first step in recycling cardboard is to separate it from other paper, such as office paper and newspaper. The cardboard is then baled, and Commercial Waste Systems will come pick it up, then it gets sent to a mill, shredded into small pieces, and put in a pulping machine to introduce water/chemicals and break down the cardboard into fibers. Then, any ink and tape are removed and the paper fibers start bonding together. Finally, the fibers are rolled and dried, then sent off to make new products. Over half of corrugated cardboard is recycled into new cardboard; the remainder is downcycled into paperboard and other paper products.
Can I Make Money Recycling Cardboard?
Commercial Waste Systems will buy cardboard in bulk if it is separated from other paper. If you work at a place that uses a lot of cardboard, such as a grocery store, retail store or restaurant, you should contact Commercial Waste Systems to see how we ca help. If you are a consumer looking to recycle five boxes, you are unlikely to find someone that will pay you.
Mokena About
Mokena is located at 41°32′4″N 87°52′37″W. Mokena has a total area of 8.893 square miles, of which 8.89 square miles is land and 0.003 square miles is water.
Cardboard Recycling Services in ND, MN, WI, IL, IN, KY, OH, MI, and parts of WV and PA.
Commercial Waste Systems is a family owned business with over 40 years in the recycling and waste paper industry.
Mokena, Illinois Information
The Village of Mokena is serviced by the Metra rail service Rock Island District. Mokena has two commuter rail stations, Hickory Creek and Front Street, providing service to downtown Chicago’s LaSalle Street Station, connecting with components of the Chicago Transit Authority. Mokena is also served by I-80, which runs along its northern border. Through I-80 commuters have convenient access to I-355 and I-57. The main north-south thoroughfares are US Route 45 and Wolf Rd. The main east-west thoroughfares are 191st St, LaPorte Rd., and US Route 30. Rail freight traffic travels along both the Metra RI District Railway and the Canadian National Railway.