Recycling old corrugated cardboard

Post-use corrugated packaging material is commonly known as "cardboard", while it is typically referred to as OCC or Old Corrugated Corrugated Boxes / Containers for Industry Insiders. Often the use of leachers and waste The term OCC in reference to the carton. The corrugated cardboard can be easily recognized by its multilayer structure, the corrugated or corrugated intermediate layer between sheets of paper keeps the corrugated board light and gives it strength to carry products.

Cardboard is a very useful packaging material for the easy transport of many different types of products. If OCC is kept dry and clean, recycling is straightforward as long as all non-paper materials such as bubble wrap, wooden skids, plastic bags, plastic wrap and Styrofoam are removed

Recycling old corrugated cardboard

Production statistics and recycling of corrugated cardboard


According to the American Forest & Paper Association, more than 51 million tons of paper and The card was reclaimed for domestic use and export in 2015, translating into a record recycling rate of 66.8 percent. For OCC, the much more impressive rate is 92.9 percent in 2015, according to the Corrugated Packaging Alliance, also a record. On average, a corrugated carton contains approximately 50% recycled fiber. About 51 percent of the OCC is used to make new corrugated cardboard, it will be 11.5 percent is used for cardboard materials such as cereal boxes. Approximately 32% of recycled OCC is exported.



The size and type of business can have a strong impact on OCC generation. Studies suggest that this material can account for up to 40% or more of solid waste in a retail establishment and 15% or more of solid waste generated in an office environment. A small convenience store is estimated to produce between 700-1000 pounds of OCC per month, while supermarket grocery stores generate between 8-30 tons and department stores 8-20 tons over that period of time.



Benefits of OCC Recycling



There are a number of benefits to recycling OCC rather than discarding it. Recycling OCC reduces energy and water consumption, while cutting greenhouse gas production and certain air pollutants such as reduced total sulfur (TRS), volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants ( HAP). Recycled paperboard also reduces the demand for virgin wood. It takes about three tons of trees to make just one ton of virgin cardboard. Recycling also helps reduce waste disposal rates. Recycling one ton of cardboard saves more than nine cubic yards of landfill.



OCC Handling Methods


Before being placed in storage containers, however, corrugated boxes should be opened and flattened. In addition, harmful contaminants should be removed. This ensures better use of the space as well as the material is clean and ready for recycling. Make sure the container is accessible to the haulers for picking up.

To the burden or not to the burden is an important decision in OCC recycling. For small firms that generate a comparatively small amount of OCC by grouping OCC manually, storing loose OCC in an appropriate container and having collected by a carrier is ideal.

On the other hand, companies that generate a large amount of OCCs should use large storage containers and compact them or wear them using an industrial baler for the efficient transportation of OCC to recycling centers. One emerging technology is the use of grinding in combination with compaction or packaging to increase the density of material for transportation.


Old Corrugated Cardboard Recycling Process
Old Corrugated Cardboard Recycling Process, Recycling of corrugated containers is straightforward. It involves shifting old waste paperboard from the waste stream, eliminating contaminants, and flattening or compressing material to promote ease of handling, storage, delivery of inventory to a paper mill or processor where it is processed into different paper, such as recycled cardboard, central staff of corrugated boxes and unbleached craft cardboard.

Sell ​​OCC
Depending on the amount of OCC generated, the sales ratio will vary. Large generators can deal directly with paper companies, while mid-level generators can handle recycling companies and very small generators can sell to smaller operators who act to add material for sale. No matter how OCC is generated, it is important to recycle.

Theft Protection
In recent years, there have been increased reports of cardboard theft or OCC, and measures can be taken to reduce the risk of OCC theft.