Recycling cardboard: Get the facts Published Sept. 26, 2013 By Frank Carpenter 341st Civil Engineer Squadron MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- On Malmstrom Air Force Base, there are cardboard recycling containers close to almost every building. These containers are placed to make cardboard recycling simple and easy, but when they are used improperly it can cost the base money that could be put to good use elsewhere. Placing trash or refuse in the cardboard recycling containers renders the product worthless. Not only does the base have to pay for the recycling service that could not be provided, but also for the costs to have the refuse removed and restore the container to its intended condition. Recycling cardboard should be easy. About 77 percent of cardboard is recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency; however, not all cardboard can be recycled. What are the facts on recycling cardboard? First off, there are two kinds of cardboard. Corrugated: Corrugated cardboard is very popular and is used to make boxes for shipping. It is comprised of corrugated, or wrinkled, fiber paper sandwiched by sturdy sheets of cardboard. Once this cardboard has been deposited into the trash or recycling bin, it is referred to in the industry as old corrugated cardboard, or OCC. If it doesn't have the corrugation, it's not recyclable cardboard. Paperboard: Paperboard, also called boxboard or chipboard, is flat, stiff and often coated to give it a glossy appearance. It is used for items such as cereal boxes, beverage cartons, shoeboxes and tissue boxes. Paperboard is not cardboard, but people often confuse the two. There is no current program for recycling paperboard on Malmstrom. What Airmen need to know Cardboard must be flattened and/or cut into smaller sections before being placed into the recycle container. Also, cardboard is picked up once a week, so if the container is full, Airmen are asked to find another nearby container to use or to take it to the recycle center. Benefits of Recycling Cardboard If cardboard can't be recycled, there may be other uses for it around the house. Cardboard can be used in compost piles, to line garden beds or as mulch for weed control. Also, cardboard can be reused as a box for shipping or storage. According to recycling advocates, recycled cardboard only takes 75 percent of the energy needed to make new cardboard and lessens the emission of sulfur dioxide that is produced when making pulp from wood trees. Recycling one ton of cardboard saves nine cubic yards of landfill space and 46 gallons of oil. Regardless of the statistics, it's common sense that recycling cardboard is a more sustainable option than cutting down trees to make virgin paper or cardboard products. For more information, contact Frank Carpenter at 731-6448.