greenerecycling

The recycled cardboard (old corrugated containers, or OCC) market has continued to recover through 2026 after the weaker conditions experienced in 2023 and 2024. Prices have generally stabilized and increased modestly as demand from paper mills has improved and export markets, particularly in Southeast Asia and India, have remained active. Supply is relatively balanced, with […]

Cardboard recycling hits much closer to home than most people realize, directly influencing your wallet, your local economy, and the environment right outside your door. Because cardboard is incredibly bulky, tossing it into the regular trash causes landfills to overflow at a breakneck pace. Cities are forced to cover these rising waste management costs by

The cardboard recycling market is currently undergoing a structural transformation, evolving from a traditional waste-management stream into a critical, strategic raw material sector. Driven by the sustained expansion of e-commerce and tightening regulatory mandates for circular economy practices, demand for high-quality recycled fiber remains robust, positioning Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) as a key input for

Cardboard recycling is more than just a chore; it’s a high-pressure transformation that turns loose scraps into “mill-sized” industrial building blocks. A standard cardboard bale can weigh anywhere from 800 to 1,300 pounds—roughly the weight of a full-grown grizzly bear—packed into a dense, wire-bound cube. This extreme compression is essential for logistics, as it allows

An OCC Bale is a highly compressed, industrial-sized block of recycled cardboard, typically created by a machine called a baler. Instead of dealing with loose, bulky boxes that take up massive amounts of space, businesses use these machines to crush the material under intense pressure, securing the resulting cube with heavy-duty wire or plastic strapping.

A cardboard bale pickup service is a recycling service that collects large, compressed bundles of cardboard that have been compacted using a baler machine. Businesses that generate a high volume of cardboard use this service to efficiently manage waste, reduce disposal costs, and maintain a clean, organized workspace. The service typically includes scheduled or on-demand

Why do we recycle cardboard? Is it even important? Recycling cardboard is very important and one of the most effective recycling actions you can take. Cardboard is made from wood pulp, so recycling it helps save trees and conserves natural resources. It also uses far less water and energy than producing new cardboard from raw

In 2024 and early 2025, OCC experienced a roller-coaster ride: after a mid 2024 spike with prices reportedly up roughly 245% year-over-year  the market reversed sharply. By December 2024, U.S. OCC prices had dropped to around US $66/ton, falling ~17% year-over-year and ~11% month-over-month. This slump largely reflects weakened demand for corrugated box shipments and

Government Shut Down & OCC It’s unlikely that a government shutdown would have a major, direct impact on the OCC  or cardboard‑recycling business—at least not compared to forces like global market demand, export restrictions, or fiber pricing—but there could be some secondary effects. For example, a shutdown might slow down customs, trade, or regulatory functions

The future of OCC cardboard looks promising as sustainability becomes a growing global priority. With increasing demand for recycled materials and the push for circular economies, OCC cardboard is poised to play a central role in packaging and supply chains. Advancements in recycling technologies are improving the efficiency and quality of recovered fibers, making OCC