Why A Cardboard Shredder Is Essential For Any Business With Lots Of Waste
In the UK, a mammoth 12.5 million tonnes of cardboard and paper is used every single year. It’s reported that 45% of this cardboard and paper is recycled, equivalent to 5.6 million tonnes which is diverted from landfill annually.
However, there is a significant amount of cardboard and paper waste which is still not being recycled and is a burden on landfill and, therefore, the planet. And even before it is recycled, reducing usage and reusing are preferable options. With this in mind, there is a way organisations can find an alternative solution for cardboard waste which has the potential to save money and reduce reliance on plastic as well as eliminating the need for disposal.
Cardboard shredding allows an organisation to convert waste cardboard such as corrugated cardboard boxes, card sheets and other cardboard items, into a form of packaging. This means that organisations can repurpose cardboard waste, giving it another life while negating the need to invest in plastic packaging materials. But how does it work in practice and just what are the benefits? Allow phs Wastekit to walk you through our guide to cardboard shredding.
What is a cardboard shredder?
A cardboard shredder is a piece of machinery which shreds cardboard. The user simply feeds cardboard into the opening of the machine and steel blades whir to grind down larger items of cardboard into smaller, manageable pieces, producing strips or pellets of cardboard.
What is the purpose of cardboard shredders?
Cardboard shredders convert cardboard boxes and cardboard sheets into useable cardboard strips. This can be used by organisations to package items, giving cardboard waste another use before it can eventually be recycled again.
What can shredded cardboard be used for?
Once shredded, cardboard can be used to meet a variety of packaging needs. Shredded cardboard strips or pellets can be used to protect and cushion items and fill voids when packaging up boxes. This protects items and stops them from moving around in the box, potentially becoming damaged during storage, transportation and delivery. Meanwhile, perforated cardboard sheets and netting can be wrapped around items to add cushioning and protect them from damage. These smaller shredded strips, perforated cardboard sheets and netting take the role which may previously be filled by plastic bubble wrap, polystyrene chips and so-called foam packing peanuts – reducing organisations’ reliance on plastic.
What are the benefits of a cardboard shredder?
Shredding cardboard waste is a viable, sustainable and low-cost solution to managing this waste stream. By shredding cardboard, organisations can divert this waste away from landfill and give it another life. And once it has been used as packaging, it can still be recycled further down the line and used again.
As the amount of waste produced is being reduced, organisations can boost their sustainability credentials and save money in the process. There are two streams of cost savings achieved by repurposing cardboard waste with cardboard shredding. Firstly, you eliminate the resource and cost associated with disposing of cardboard waste (whether via landfill or, hopefully, recycling). Secondly, organisations can save money by spending less on packaging materials – since they are producing their own eco-friendly cardboard packaging on site. Not only is this a financial gain but organisations switching from plastic packaging to cardboard are also doing the right thing for the planet; using less plastic and therefore helping to reduce the amount of plastic in circulation. What’s more, plastic-free, sustainable cardboard packaging demonstrates to the end user (whether another business or a consumer) how seriously an organisation is taking the fight against plastic pollution which will boost brand perception.
In addition, by converting cardboard waste into useable shredded cardboard, organisations can also save potentially significant quantities of space as there is no longer a need to store bulky cardboard waste on site as well as the requirement for cardboard waste containers.
Is a cardboard shredder the same as a paper shredder?
A cardboard shredder is similar to a paper shredder in that it processes and shreds materials in the same way. However, paper shredders are only designed for paper and are therefore not powerful enough to process cardboard. By comparison, cardboard shredders are industrial machines which are purpose designed to handle cardboard. Therefore, only cardboard shredders should be used to shred cardboard.
What are the alternatives to cardboard shredders?
If you are committed to diverting waste from landfill by reducing use, reusing materials and recycling but don’t have the need for shredded cardboard, there are alternatives.
You can segregate waste streams and efficiently reduce the volume of waste to process cardboard for recycling by using a cardboard compactor while a cardboard baler helps to convert bulky waste into bales ready for collection.
These innovations mean cardboard waste takes up less space and reduces the number of collections required, saving costs. But what’s more, baled cardboard can be sold on to recycling companies so waste cardboard can be converted into a new revenue stream for your business.
Who can I speak to about managing cardboard waste?
To find out how you can be more efficient at managing your waste streams, save money and become more sustainable, get in touch with phs Wastekit. You’ll even receive a free Wastesaving Audit to find the best solutions for your requirements.