Paper & Cardboard Recycling
OCC, Office Paper & More
Paper and cardboard recycling collects and reprocesses corrugated cardboard (OCC), office paper, newspaper, magazines, and mixed paper into new fiber products. Paper is the most recycled material by weight in the United States, with a recovery rate above 65%.
The Most Recycled Material in America
Paper and cardboard represent the largest single component of the commercial waste stream for most businesses — especially retail, distribution, and office environments. The good news: paper fiber is highly recyclable and has established commodity markets. The challenge is volume management, contamination control, and getting pickup frequency right.
Recycling Quotes provides scheduled paper and cardboard recycling with the right container for your volume — from desk-side bins and toters to compactors and balers for high-volume generators. Clean OCC at sufficient volume often qualifies for commodity rebates, turning a disposal cost into revenue.
Paper Grades We Accept
Processed through certified facilities with full documentation.
From Collection to New Fiber
Assessment
We evaluate your paper and cardboard volume, where it accumulates, and current disposal costs.
Equipment
Right-sized container: toters, dumpsters, compactors, or balers depending on your generation rate.
Pickup
Scheduled service matched to your volume. Frequency adjusts seasonally.
Processing
Paper sorted by grade, baled, and shipped to domestic mills for reprocessing into new products.
Documentation
Weight tickets and Certificate of Recycling with tonnage diverted for your records.
Paper is the most recycled material by weight in the US — over 65% recovery rate
saved per ton of recycled paper, plus 7,000 gallons of water and 4,100 kWh of energy
of landfill waste is paper and cardboard — the single largest component
Paper fiber can be recycled 5-7 times before it becomes too short for new paper
Ready to recycle paper & cardboard?
Quotes in less than 1 hour. Free pickup for commercial volumes.
Services for Paper & Cardboard
The Cardboard Problem at Scale
Top Paper & Cardboard Generators
Paper Recycling in Your City
Same day pickup and quotes in these cities and more.
Paper & Cardboard Questions
Contamination, grades, and when cardboard becomes revenue.
View All FAQs arrow_forwardWe accept OCC (corrugated cardboard), office paper, mixed paper, newspaper, magazines, kraft paper, paperboard, shredded paper (bagged), and books. The key: materials must be dry and free of food contamination.
No. Grease-soaked cardboard contaminates the recycling batch. Clean portions of pizza boxes can be torn off and recycled; greasy portions go to compost or trash.
Clean OCC at sufficient volume (typically 2+ tons per pickup) often qualifies for commodity rebates. Market prices fluctuate — we pass through current rates and adjust quarterly.
OCC is corrugated cardboard (the kind with the wavy flute layer). It's a higher-grade commodity. Mixed paper includes everything else: office paper, junk mail, magazines, paperboard. OCC pays more and has more stable markets.
Yes. For businesses generating 2+ tons per week, compactors or balers reduce volume by 50-90%, cutting pickup frequency and costs. Equipment provided at no additional charge for qualifying volumes.
Yes, but it must be bagged to prevent it from blowing during transport. Shredded paper has lower commodity value than whole paper because the fibers are shortened, but it's still recyclable.
Keep paper and cardboard dry and separate from food waste. We provide sorting signage and employee training to minimize contamination. The most common contaminants: food-soiled paper, waxed cardboard, and plastic bags mixed with paper.
Weight tickets per pickup, monthly tonnage summaries, and a Certificate of Recycling. Annual sustainability data available for ESG reporting.
Get a Cardboard Recycling Quote
Tell us your volume and we'll set up a program that keeps your dock clear and your recycling documented.