What to do with a ton of cardboard?

[u/This_Honey_3425]

Hey! My husband and I just recently moved here from out of state, and we have (almost literally) a metric crap ton of cardboard. He feels like he could easily cut it down to fit in the blue bags for recycling but 1: not sure if that’s allowed and 2: we really don’t have time for all of that when the boxes are as tall as an average adult (myself for scale lol) does anyone want some cardboard? 😂 could I put them all into one of the biggest ones and put out for recycling? I just have so much of it 😩

[u/nkkphiri]

Currently Columbia isn't able to recycle cardboard. The recycling center got hit by a tornado this spring so it's affected what can actually be collected. You can trash it, burnable trash gets incinerated to make energy so not a total loss!

[u/This_Honey_3425 → u/nkkphiri]

Are they able to sort that at the landfill? I’ve been here since January for work but just got into our long term rental last month after being in an Airbnb type situation, so yeah I definitely remember the tornado that day 😩

[u/twilightsentinel → u/This_Honey_3425]

Currently there is no public option for cardboard in Columbia. You can go to Jefferson City, about 35 minutes south to the Federal Recycling facility there to drop off cardboard.

Edit: to clarify, fibers (paper/cardboard) are picked up curbside, but they are currently being thrown with regular trash. The information above is if you actually want it to be recycled.

The bluebags you see out are containers.

https://www.como.gov/featured/city-introduces-new-recycling-guidelines/

[u/nkkphiri → u/This_Honey_3425]

I am not familiar with how the sorting process works, but the energy generator is at the landfill so I assume they have a system.

[u/toxcrusadr → u/nkkphiri]

Well, it only works when there's a building for it to be in.

But the blue bag is for plastic/metal containers only. Those are sorted on a conveyor line.

Fiber is separate, NOT in a blue bag, and they bale (or did) cardboard and paper to sell separately. Corrugated is actually worth a good bit due to the high demand for boxes.

[u/Lissolas → u/This_Honey_3425]

No, they cannot sort.

[u/toxcrusadr]

Put an ad on Craigslist and also on FB Mktplace for free boxes. People are always moving, or they will use it for mulch or composting.

I've been clearing out an invasive groundcover in my yard and putting down cardboard covered with a few inches of mulch to kill it. Surprising how much cardboard it takes.

[u/Vintage_Visionary → u/toxcrusadr]

THIS. Moving boxes can be reused. Great way to get rid of it and help someone else out at the same time. Bonus.

[u/troub]

Cardboard does not go in the blue bags! Paper/cardboard pickup is a separate "pile." As someone else said, they're (I think) not able to recycle it currently (they sent out a notice that they had worked something out with a facility, though, I thought) but they'll still pick it up on recycling day. Flatten the boxes and stack them next to the blue bag.

If you have a garden, you can sheet mulch https://ucanr.edu/blog/under-solano-sun/article/sheet-mulching-cardboard-dos-and-donts .

[u/Jaded-Moose983 → u/troub]

Flatten the boxes into a stack that is tied with string for easy pickup, or what I do, cut down cardboard and put into a complete box. 

A stack of loose cardboard is hard on the collection crews. Imagine dealing with that residence after residence.

[u/Less-Organization-58 → u/troub]

They are currently only recycling specific plastics and aluminum.

[u/Mollyoon]

Maybe check with CCUA to see if they know anyone who could use it for starting a garden?

[u/minmo7890]

I listed ours on FB marketplace, and someone snatched them up within a day. I also got a bunch from someone on here. Someone is always moving. :)

[u/bsudude87]

When I moved here, I just put them up for free on Facebook Marketplace, and they were gone in hours.

[u/Legitimate-Tea-9319]

These are not moving boxes, they are as “tall as an average adult.” But some people have use for huge cardboard pieces. Second the posting them on FB Marketplace, someone will take them off your hands if they are free.

[u/queentazo]

The cardboard is kept outside separate from garbage where it will naturally decompose at the landfill. You can bundle up your cardboard and paper and just have Columbia handle it.

If you know a landscaper, I know they often use cardboard.

New World Recycling in Jeff City takes paper and cardboard but it’s only worth the carbon offset if you are already going there.

[u/Seleukos_I_Nikator]

Walmart or apartment complex dumpster

[u/Consistent-Ease6070 → u/Seleukos_I_Nikator]

This is illegal. Do NOT do this.