Why Should Cardboard be Recycled?

Cardboard is some of the most common materials in the world these days. From the largest of shipping containers to the smallest of packages, cardboard is used universally for adding rigidity to otherwise fragile packaging. Even better, it seems to be very easy to produce and can be readily built with recycled material. Additionally, because cardboard is made of compressed paper, which is made of a variety of tree bark pulps, cardboard has paper-like quality in that it can break down quickly when left in the natural elements. The environmental impact of recycling cardboard is greatly important both from a physical perspective and from a monetary view. In terms of its physical importance, cardboard needs to be kept out of landfills because despite it being made of natural materials, it won’t assist in breaking down any other trash any faster. Further, it can block out the sun from the things below it, which is a major hindrance in the breaking down process of the landfill itself. At the same time, the ability to recycle cardboard is intertwined with the ability of the owner to pay for its recycling. By extension, by continuously making cardboard easily available to recycle, more people will become more likely to choose to recycle it, rather than cut it up and throw it into a trash bag bound for the landfills.

Additionally, because cardboard is made of recyclable material, the cardboard can be collected and recycled again multiple times—not even significant types of plastic can be reused to a comparable amount.

 How to Recycle Cardboard in Atlanta?

Google ‘how do you recycle cardboard’ or ‘where can I recycle cardboard’ and you’ll immediately notice that there are a variety of ways to recycle cardboard in Atlanta. One of the best ways is to recycle cardboard via local disposal services like a recycling center. Just as the City of Atlanta has a bulk item pickup option, they also have a commitment to assist with the disposal of cardboard too. However, if you did not want to call on the city, there is also the option of calling on a professional junk removal service like Junk King. There is also the option of calling on your weekly trash pickup to remove some of your cardboard, but there are restrictions to doing this. 

As far as relying on the City of Atlanta for your cardboard disposal needs, you’ll need to also pay attention to their numerous restrictions. Failing to follow their expectations can result in multiple costly fines. For example, one such restriction that residents of Atlanta need to be aware of is the city’s stance on junk being left out on curbs. While you can schedule a pickup time for your junk disposal via the city, if you choose to not schedule an appointment, or do not know that you need one—the city could end up fining you a few hundred dollars for the ‘improper disposal’ of the junk. It could also be considered significant littering which can result in an arrest or legal trouble. Another restriction that the city has on these pickups is their inability to pick up more than 8 cubic feet of junk at one time; any junk that exceeds this limit is considered a secondary pickup and will incur additional fees. 

In comparison, Junk King is considered one of the top-rated removal services in America. Apart from being able to uninstall, remove, and recycle large objects, Junk King is also able to collect and recycle smaller or more simple items like cardboard. Further, there are three different ways that a resident homeowner can utilize the services that Junk King provides. The first available service that Junk King offers is our full-service option. This option gives the best possible customer service without any work needing to be done by the client themselves. As the owner of Junk King North Atlanta likes to say, “the heaviest thing you should have to lift is the telephone”. The second option that the residential homeowner has is to utilize the Junk King MINI roll-away dumpsters; small enough to fit in a residential driveway and large enough to accommodate multiple large appliances, the Junk King MINI can handle even the largest of residential cleanouts. The largest difference between the full and the self-service is that of time and assistance—the full-service operates with an additional crew of professional movers to help remove your junk, the self-service assumes that the client is able to do these large hauling jobs by themselves (and whoever they bribed to assist them). Lastly, there are also one-off pickup options available through Junk King. These one-offs can be bulk item pickups or single item pickups, they can even be large bales of flattened cardboard.

Alternatively, residents could also call their regular weekly trash collectors and speak to them about their options from there. Most weekly trash collectors will not have an option for material-specific pickups, but some of the larger companies like Waste Management at least have the tools and facilities to be able to collect and break down recyclable materials. It is also important to keep in mind that many of these weekly trash collection businesses are meant specifically for trash pick up; this is important to note because certain trash removal companies will likely agree to pickup your junk and cardboard, only to then turn around and throw it into the local landfill. This is obviously not the best outcome for the cardboard, as it can be recycled—but it also impacts the local environment and the broader social community. 

 
 How Much does it Cost to Recycle Cardboard?

 
There is a lot that goes into recycling cardboard, so it is important to know the basics of the process and the costs associated with recycling cardboard before choosing one of the above options. The cost of recycling cardboard plays a great role in getting the right service for your needs. Below is the general price range for each of the above options to recycle cardboard, as well as some of the pros and cons that go along with each.

• The City of Atlanta
  • Cost Range: Whatever you pay to be a resident of Atlanta; All residents of Atlanta are entitled to the recycling services that the city funds, up to 12 collections a year with some restrictions. 
  • Pros: Your cheapest option, plus you can schedule a pickup for early morning and put your junk out early. 
  • Cons: They have a very limited definition of the word ‘haul’, and will not take certain difficult objects. 

• Junk King Junk Hauling and Removal Services
  • Cost Range: $99-$699; Junk King offers a variety of services, each with its own special aspects. It is the most extravagant of these services that account for the highest numbers. 
  • Pros: You have multiple options, each involving work with trained professionals and their assistance. 
  • Cons: Junk King is generally not the answer for small ‘hauls’ or one-offs. They can be used for each of them, but clients find more benefit from larger or more complex junk and trash hauling.

• Weekly Trash Collector Services
  • Cost Range: Whatever you pay for your typical weekly collections, with additional charges possible. Obviously, there are also a number of restrictions that come with this as well. 
  • Pros: You can have your cardboard taken away at a consistent rate, and if doing duel stream recycling you know your cardboard is being recycled. 
  • Cons: They will sometimes refuse to take certain things with them, as part of their laundry list of restrictions as a company. 

Junk King & Cardboard Recycling FAQs

This blog doesn’t provide everything you need to know about cardboard recycling, but it does give you a starting point that can be used to make informed choices about your recycling habits. It also gives you the major options you have available to you as a resident of Atlanta, GA. Continue reading to see some of the most frequently asked questions about Junk King and cardboard recycling Atlanta

• Is cardboard really that important to recycle? 
  • Absolutely. Cardboard in particular has one of the highest recyclable rates possible for materials (over 90% can be recycled usually). This is important when we consider how much energy goes into making ‘virgin’ cardboard (3 tons of trees per 1 ton of ‘virgin’ cardboard).

• Are there alternatives to cardboard processing and recycling? 
  • There are other things you can do to reuse your cardboard besides what is listed above. For example, you can cut them apart and make custom shipping boxes, or you can slide them under your furniture and appliances for some added floor/counter protection.

• Why does Junk King care about recycling? 
  • When Junk King was founded in 2005, the founder wanted to create a junk removal company that focused on two things: customer service and caring for the future of the world. Recycling is the latter of these goals. Since its founding, Junk King has become North America’s greenest junk removal company, with a goal of over 70% of each of its hauls being recycled, reused, repurposed, or donated. 

There are three ways to get in contact with a customer representative from Junk King today.

(1) Give us a call at (706) 247-7513 to speak with a real person about your junk hauling needs and options. You can receive a quote over the phone or schedule a no-obligation, in-person assessment at your property. Having an in-person assessment is also the best way to get a concrete estimate.

(2) Text us pictures of your junk to (737) 888-5865, and receive an estimate back over text. Send us multiple pictures and you can receive quotes for multiple items.

(3) Or, stay online and receive an estimate in minutes by using our pricing calculator; at the end of the wizard, you can even schedule your drop-off or appointment.