Waste product profile: Corrugated boxes

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Waste Age

OSTI ID:162970

Miller, C ^[1]

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1. Environmental Industry Associations, Washington, DC (United States)

As with all packages, corrugated boxes can be lightweighted. Using less linerboard has resulted in a 10% to 15% weight reduction in the last 10 years. However, the need to meet compression`s tacking strength, and burst tests limits the ability to lightweight corrugated boxes. Ironically, heavy use of recycled-content fibers can increase the weight of a corrugated box in order to meet the requirements of these tests. Corrugated boxes can be reused before recycling. Corrugated boxes are easily and highly recyclable. Large producers, such as grocery store warehouses and factories, have recycled their corrugated boxes for some time. These outlets produced sufficient amounts of OCC to justify the cost of baling equipment. If shredded properly, corrugated boxes are easily compostable. Corrugated boxes have a per-pound heating value of 7,047 Btus (compared with 4,500 for a pound of MSW). Like most materials, corrugated boxes degrade slowly in a modern landfill.

• OSTI ID: 162970
• Journal Information: Waste Age, Journal Name: Waste Age Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 26; ISSN WAGEAE; ISSN 0043-1001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BIODEGRADATION
CALORIFIC VALUE
CONTAINERS
MARKET
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PAPER
SOLID WASTES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION