Cardboard recycling for cash (and making MONEY in 2023)

If you want to make some extra cash and help the environment, then recycling cardboard is a great option for you! Did you know that you can recycle cardboard for cash?

Yes, it is possible! Cardboard recycling is a process where old cardboard is recycled and turned into new products.

Cardboard, and especially baled cardboard, is a very valuable commodity, and recycling it can pay pretty well! But, how can you recycle cardboard for money? Where can I sell cardboard for cash? Can you make money recycling cardboard?

All you need to do is collect recyclable cardboard from businesses in your area and take it to your local recycling center. They will pay you cash for your recyclables by the pound.

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In this article, I will explain how to make money recycling cardboard, and where to sell cardboard in the United States earning top dollar $. Finally, I will also explore the option to start a cardboard recycling business or side hustle!

How to make money recycling cardboard

Cardboard recycling is a great way to make some extra money. All you need is a bit of time and a bit of effort, and you can start making money by recycling cardboard.

Here are the steps to make money recycling cardboard:

  1. Find a local recycling center that accepts cardboard.
  2. Collect as much cardboard as you can, preferably for free from local stores (ask for permission).
  3. Take the cardboard to the recycling center and get paid for it.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as often as you can.

With a bit of time and effort, you can start making money by recycling cardboard. So what are you waiting for? If this sounds interesting, you can get started today!

PRO TIP

f you are a business dealing with a lot of cardboard, then you should consider getting a cardboard baler. In this way, you will be able to deliver baled cardboard that will not only save space but the recycling center will also PAY a whopping 30% MORE for your cardboard!

How to recycle cardboard for cash

Are you looking for a way to recycle cardboard for cash? If so, you’re in luck!

There are a number of ways to recycle cardboard and earn money in the process. So, where to recycle cardboard?

Sell cardboard to a recycling center

One option is to sell your cardboard to a recycling center. This is a great option if you have a lot of cardboard to recycle. Most recycling centers will pay you by the pound, so this is a great way to earn some extra cash.

Sell cardboard online

There are a number of websites that allow you to sell your cardboard for cash. This is a great option if you don’t have a lot of cardboard to recycle. You can typically set your own price, so this is a great way to earn a little bit of extra money.

The best places to recycle cardboard for money

There are many recycling centers that will pay you for your cardboard. The amount you can earn depends on the center, but in 2023 it’s typically between $1.6 and $2 per 100 pounds of loose cardboard.

This is significantly lower than the prices that were paid in 2022 when you were typically getting between $3 and $5 per 100 pounds of cardboard.

If instead, you can deliver baled cardboard, the recycling center will usually pay about 30% more compared to loose cardboard. Not bad!

The best place to recycle cardboard for money is at a local recycling center. This is because they typically pay the most for your cardboard.

Who buys cardboard near me? To find a local recycling center nearby the best place to search is Google Maps. Just click the button below to find out where to sell cardboard boxes near me!

Cardboard recycling centers map USA
Where can I sell cardboard near me?

Why look for a free cardboard recycling near me when you can get paid for it? You can get cash for cardboard even if you sell it in small quantities. Keep reading to know how to find the best cardboard buyers for your boxes!

12 places to recycle cardboard for cash

If you are looking for cardboard recycling near me for money, here are some of the best places where you can sell used cardboard boxes for recycling and get paid for it!

Looking for something more? Who buys cardboard bales near me? Many of the companies below do! So, where can I recycle cardboard? Here’s who buys recycled cardboard, with the best cardboard box buyers on the market:

1. BoxSmart

Where to recycle cardboard for money? Boxsmart is a company that buys used cardboard and boxes. So, if you are looking to sell cardboard boxes, they will buy used and broken ones, however, the good ones will be sold and reused while the ones in bad condition will be recycled.

The company claims that you can earn 50% to 100% more revenue compared to traditional recycling centers.

There is no additional expensive equipment needed to use their services. This means that you will not need an expensive cardboard baler.

There are also no pull charges or transportation expenses.

This solution is surely worth a try and their model makes also sense from a sustainability point of view. Because, as you can see in the 6 R’s of sustainability, reusing cardboard that is in good condition is certainly more eco-friendly than recycling it.

2. BoxCycle

BoxCycle is a marketplace for selling used shipping and moving boxes. You can list your boxes for sale, and once they are sold and picked up by the buyer, you get paid.

There is also a “Wanted” section where buyers post current needs for specific box types and sizes.

All boxes are acceptable provided they meet the company’s minimum quality standards.

3. Duffy Box

Duffy Box has been in business for over 90 years and has been helping companies save money by reducing landfill wastes, minimizing pollution, and lowering energy consumption.

They purchase used cartons, recyclable cardboard, and other waste papers, plastics, and other recyclables from manufacturing facilities.

In addition, Duffy Box has over 200 trailers to get stuff from industrial facilities so that you don’t have to stock used boxes in your warehouse.

For businesses, they will provide a free recyclable commodities audit and production evaluation. Upon touring your facility, they will provide customized recommendations based on your setup, industry, and number of employees.

4. ReboxCorp

ReboxCorp is a recycling company that partners with businesses to help them recycle their cardboard boxes.

They have over 30 distribution centers serving over 350 manufacturers in North America.

They work with businesses to help them reduce the collection process and increase operational efficiency. They also help businesses decrease CO2 emissions, water and energy consumption.

5. Sadlers

Sadlers is a UK-based company that buys and sells used cardboard boxes.

They have been in business since 1952 and handle a variety of different types of cardboard boxes.

They have schemes in place with many large food, drink, manufacturing, and distribution organizations, and also process material from other Western European countries.

They buy one-off batches or can set up a regular collection service.

You can contact them to find out how to sell your used cardboard boxes and take advantage of the financial and environmental benefits.

6. RecycleinMe

RecycleinMe is a scrap marketplace that allows users to buy and sell recyclable materials. To use the site, users must first register for an account.

Once registered, users can then create posts to buy or sell recyclables.

Other users can then browse these posts and contact the poster if they are interested in buying or selling the materials.

7. Quincy Recycle

Quincy Recycle is a leading recycling company that has been in the business for over 50 years.

The company deals with paper, plastic, and metal recycling. It is also a major supplier and buyer of Gaylord boxes.

The company helps its clients build sustainable industrial waste solutions within their businesses. It has the capability to customize its services to fit the needs of any type of business.

8. Recycler’s World

Recycler’s World is an online website that has been matching buyers and sellers since 1995.

You can browse the listings to find potential buyers for your cardboard bales. You can list your loose and baled items on the site and wait for buyers to find you.

9. Padnos

Padnos is a site that buys and sells recycled materials, such as plastics, metals, paper, and electronics.

It offers local, regional, national, and international buying and selling opportunities, and is a great place to sell bulk recycled cardboard boxes.

Padnos buys all types of paper commodities and provides local, regional, and national support to customers. It is an expert in paper and cardboard recycling and has locations throughout Michigan.

10. Used Cardboard Boxes

Used Cardboard Boxes buys shipping boxes, Gaylord, and some damaged boxes too.

They will arrange for pickup of the boxes. It’s convenient and more profitable than some other companies.

You can submit the quantity and size of your most common boxes, along with a picture on the website.

They recover truckloads of quality used boxes from large companies that might otherwise recycle them or simply throw them away. The boxes are either once used or may even be new factory misprints, overruns or customer returns that are no longer needed.

This is a good option if you have cardboard to sell in bulk or if you need to buy some used boxes.

11. Craigslist

Craigslist can be a great way to get rid of cardboard boxes by selling them locally.

The buyer may come to your house or place of business to pick up the boxes, which is convenient.

You may also be able to sell to a local business that buys cardboard and used pallets; give them a call to see what their offer is.

If you have a lot of cardboard boxes, you could also try selling them on another online marketplace.

12. eBay

Looking to make a quick buck by decluttering your home? Why not sell your used cardboard boxes on eBay?

You can list any kind of box on there, from Amazon boxes to moving boxes. As long as you factor in seller fees and shipping charges, you’re sure to turn a profit.

Plus, if you’ve got a large lot that would be too expensive to ship, you can always opt for local pickup.

Where to find cardboard for free

There are a few places where you can get cardboard for free. One option is to ask local businesses if they have any extra cardboard that they are willing to give away.

Another option is to look for cardboard recycling bins in your community.

Finally, you can also check online classifieds or social media groups to see if anyone is giving away cardboard boxes.

Some of the best places where you can look for free cardboard to collect include:

  • McDonald’s
  • Walmart
  • Starbucks
  • Grocery Stores
  • Shopping centers
  • Any retail store

How to start a cardboard recycling business?

Cardboard recycling is a great way to earn some extra cash. All you need is a bit of space to store the cardboard and a way to collect it.

Once you have enough supply of cardboard, you can start to recycle it for cash.

If you want to start your own cardboard recycling business, you may consider investing in a cardboard baler.

This machine compresses cardboard into bales that are easy to transport and store. You can then sell the bales to businesses that need them.

Starting a cardboard recycling business is a great way to make some extra money and help the environment.

How much money can you make by recycling cardboard?

Cardboard is one of the most widely recycled materials in the world. recycling cardboard can be a great way to make some extra cash.

The amount of money you can make by recycling cardboard will depend on a few factors, such as the amount of cardboard you have to recycle, the going rate for recycling cardboard, and the costs of transporting the cardboard to the recycling facility.

Generally speaking, you can expect to make around $0.04 per pound of loose cardboard you recycle. So, if you have a large amount of cardboard to recycle, you could potentially make a decent amount of money.

Of course, the amount of money you make from recycling cardboard is not going to make you rich. However, it is a great way to earn some extra cash, and it is also good for the environment.

The benefits of recycling cardboard

Cardboard recycling for money can be a lucrative business. In fact, cardboard is one of the most widely recycled materials in the world.

As such, recycling cardboard offers all of the benefits of recycling, can help us to achieve environmental sustainability, and you can also make an interesting profit while helping the environment. Not bad!

There are many benefits to recycling cardboard, including:

  • It saves trees and other natural resources. Cardboard is made from trees, so recycling it helps to preserve our forests.
  • It reduces pollution. When cardboard is recycled, it is turned into new products, which means that fewer harmful chemicals are released into the environment.
  • Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. When cardboard is recycled, it takes up less space in landfills, which helps to reduce pollution and preserve our natural resources.

Conclusion

Can you sell cardboard? Absolutely, and it can be quite profitable as well! If you want to a paper recycling for money, just start looking for cardboard buyers near me, and thanks to the companies I mentioned above, you will be able to start selling your cardboard and make some handy cash in no time!

There are many benefits to recycling cardboard for money. Selling cardboard not only can you earn some extra cash, but you can also help reduce waste that may end up in the environment.

If you are environmentally conscious or have a lot of cardboard to recycle, you can even start your own recycling business.

Moreover, recycling cardboard is part of the environmental responsibility of every business dealing with cardboard packaging. Because recycling materials can lead us to environmental sustainability, and ultimately, to sustainable development.

Whatever your reason, cardboard recycling for cash is a great way to make some extra money while also helping the environment.