Commercial waste
Cardboard &
packaging waste
Shops, warehouses & offices
Compliant recycling- Cardboard and paper are a separated recycling stream under Simpler Recycling — they shouldn't go in general waste.
- Retail and warehouse sites produce the most, and bulky cardboard fills bins quickly.
- Flattening or baling cardboard saves space and can reduce how many collections you need.
- Separating cardboard shrinks your expensive general waste, which often lowers your overall bill.
Anywhere that takes deliveries ends up with cardboard — and lots of it. For shops and warehouses in particular, managing packaging waste well is both a legal requirement and an easy win on cost.
Do businesses have to recycle cardboard?
Yes. Under Simpler Recycling, paper and cardboard are a dry recycling stream businesses must separate for collection — they shouldn't go in general waste. See also dry mixed recycling explained.
Why cardboard is a space problem
Cardboard is bulky and light, so it fills bins fast while weighing very little. Left loose, boxes can swallow a container in a day — meaning more frequent (and more expensive) collections than the actual volume justifies.
Flatten or bale it
The simple fix is to flatten boxes before they go in the bin. For higher volumes, a baler or compactor crushes cardboard into dense bales — saving huge amounts of space, cutting the number of collections, and sometimes even turning your cardboard into a small rebate where there's a market for the recovered material.
How it cuts your costs
General waste is the most expensive stream to dispose of. Diverting bulky cardboard into its own (cheaper) recycling collection shrinks your costly general waste, which often lowers your overall bill. See reducing business waste costs.
Keep your paperwork right
As with any business waste, use a licensed carrier and keep your waste transfer note — it's part of your duty of care.
Drowning in cardboard? We compare compliant cardboard and general waste collection across licensed carriers, and can advise on balers for higher volumes. Call 0845 862 1947 or get in touch.
Cardboard is one of the easiest waste streams to get right: separate it, flatten or bale it, and match collections to real volume. You'll stay compliant, free up space, and usually trim your overall waste bill.