Recycling Services
Responsible recycling for gaylord boxes and corrugated materials. Certified processes, scheduled pickups, and transparent environmental reporting.
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How We Recycle
Our recycling process is designed to maximize material recovery while minimizing environmental impact. From the moment a box enters our facility to the moment it becomes new paper, every step is tracked, documented, and optimized for efficiency.
Collection & Intake
Boxes arrive at our recycling facilities through scheduled pickups, drop-offs, or deliveries from our buying program. Each incoming batch is logged, weighed, and photographed for documentation purposes. We track every box from intake through final processing to maintain complete chain of custody records.
Sorting & Assessment
Our trained team sorts incoming boxes by material type, wall construction, contamination level, and recyclability. Boxes that still have reuse potential are diverted to our resale inventory. Boxes that have reached the end of their reuse life continue through the recycling process.
Breakdown & Preparation
Boxes destined for recycling are broken down, de-taped, and prepared for baling. Metal staples, plastic strapping, and non-corrugated materials are separated and sorted into their own recycling streams. Clean corrugated material is then fed into our industrial baler.
Baling & Compression
The corrugated cardboard is compressed into dense bales weighing approximately 1,200 to 1,500 pounds each. Baling maximizes transportation efficiency and ensures the material is ready for direct delivery to paper mills without additional processing at the receiving end.
Mill Delivery & Paper Production
Completed bales are shipped to domestic paper mills where the corrugated fibers are pulped, cleaned, and reformed into new paper and packaging products. The fibers from a single recycled gaylord box can be reused five to seven times before they become too short for further recycling.
Types of Materials We Recycle
We do not just recycle the corrugated cardboard. Our facilities process every component of a gaylord box including strapping, wrapping, fasteners, and liner materials. Here is a breakdown of every material stream we handle.
Corrugated Cardboard
Recovery Rate: 98%Our primary recycling stream. Single-wall, double-wall, and triple-wall corrugated cardboard from gaylord boxes and other bulk containers. This is the highest-value material in our recycling program and achieves a 98% recovery rate in our facilities.
Waxed Cardboard
Recovery Rate: 85%Wax-coated and moisture-resistant corrugated boxes that cannot be recycled through standard paper mill processes. We work with specialized recycling partners who process waxed cardboard separately, ensuring it does not contaminate conventional recycling streams.
Plastic Strapping & Wrap
Recovery Rate: 90%Polypropylene strapping, stretch wrap, and shrink wrap removed from incoming pallets and boxes. These plastics are collected, baled separately, and sent to plastics recyclers for processing into new strapping, lumber alternatives, and other plastic products.
Metal Components
Recovery Rate: 95%Steel staples, metal banding, and wire fasteners removed during the sorting process. All metals are collected and sold to scrap metal recyclers. Although small in volume, every ounce of metal recovered prevents the need for virgin mining and ore processing.
Tape & Adhesive Materials
Recovery Rate: 70%Packing tape, labels, and adhesive materials are removed during the breakdown process and diverted to specialized waste streams. While these materials are more difficult to recycle, separating them ensures the corrugated material remains clean and mill-ready.
Mixed Paper & Liner Board
Recovery Rate: 92%Paper inserts, dividers, partitions, and liner materials found inside gaylord boxes are separated and recycled through dedicated mixed-paper recycling channels. This material is lower-grade than corrugated but still has significant recycling value.
Our Impact By the Numbers
We believe in transparency and measurable results. These numbers represent the real, verified environmental impact of our recycling operations across all five facilities. Every box you recycle with us contributes to these outcomes.
Each year, our facilities process and recycle over 2.5 million gaylord boxes that would otherwise end up in landfills. That is enough boxes to fill over 200 semi-trailers.
Recycling corrugated cardboard directly reduces the demand for virgin wood pulp. Our annual recycling volume saves the equivalent of approximately 45,000 mature trees each year.
Manufacturing new corrugated cardboard is water-intensive. By recycling used boxes, we help conserve an estimated 137 million gallons of water annually compared to producing equivalent new materials.
Each recycled gaylord box prevents approximately 35 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Across our entire annual recycling volume, that adds up to over 87 million pounds of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere.
Of all material that enters our facilities, 96% is either reused or recycled. Only 4% of material ends up in landfills, and we are actively working to reduce that number even further.
Our five facilities collectively process and recycle approximately 12,000 tons of corrugated material each month, making us one of the largest corrugated recyclers in our markets.
Scheduled Recycling Pickups
Set up a recurring pickup schedule that fits your operations. Our trucks come to you on a reliable cadence, keeping your facility clear of used boxes without any effort on your part.
Weekly Pickup
Every weekIdeal for high-volume operations that generate used boxes daily. A dedicated truck and driver are assigned to your account and arrive on the same day each week. This program is the most popular option for manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and large retailers.
Bi-Weekly Pickup
Every 2 weeksA balanced option for mid-volume operations. Pickups are scheduled every two weeks on a consistent day. Your account manager can adjust the cadence up or down as your box generation volume changes throughout the year.
Monthly Pickup
Once per monthDesigned for businesses that accumulate boxes more slowly. Monthly pickups keep your facility clean without requiring the commitment of more frequent service. Additional on-demand pickups can be requested at any time if you accumulate boxes faster than expected.
On-Demand Pickup
As neededFor businesses with variable or unpredictable box generation patterns. Call or submit a request online, and we will schedule a pickup within 48 hours. No long-term commitment required. Pay only for what we pick up, when we pick it up.
Recycling Certifications
Our commitment to responsible recycling is backed by industry-recognized certifications. These standards ensure that every box we process is handled according to the highest environmental and operational benchmarks.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management
Our recycling operations are certified under ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management systems. This certification demonstrates our commitment to systematic environmental improvement, pollution prevention, and regulatory compliance across all facilities.
R2 Responsible Recycling
Our facilities hold R2 certification, ensuring that all materials are processed according to the highest environmental, health, and safety standards. R2 certification requires rigorous auditing and documentation of recycling processes from intake to final disposition.
SFI Chain of Custody
We maintain Sustainable Forestry Initiative chain of custody certification, which verifies that recycled fiber from our facilities can be tracked through the supply chain. This is particularly important for customers with corporate sustainability reporting requirements.
Zero Waste to Landfill (Pursuing)
We are actively pursuing TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste certification for all five of our facilities. Two locations have already achieved this standard, with the remaining three on track for certification within the next 18 months.
Start Recycling Responsibly
Whether you have a one-time batch of boxes to recycle or need an ongoing pickup program, we have the infrastructure and expertise to handle it. Set up your recycling program today and start making a measurable environmental impact.