Many people want to make a difference in the world by being more environmentally aware. Green is the catch phrase of the decade. This new awareness has helped people across the globe learn about the rising environmental dangers. An excellent way to help out this growing movement is to reuse and recycle the cardboard boxes around your home instead of throwing them out with the trash to go to already heaping landfills.
Cardboard is manufactured in a couple of varieties and is generally considered a heavy-duty paper product. There is a flat type of cardboard which is most commonly used for smaller boxes, such as shoe boxes, gift boxes, and jewelry boxes. Boxed foods, such as rice or macaroni and cheese, usually also use this thinner, smoother type of cardboard.
Another type, sometimes referred to as corrugated cardboard, is typically used for storage boxes, shipping supplies and for other heavy duty needs. The materials making up these cardboard boxes include a layer of rippled cardboard between two smoother layers. This construction makes the boxes stronger and more durable for moving or storing and more resistant to the elements.
This material is very recyclable. If home recycling is not available, individuals should search the World Wide Web for nearby recycling centers. Local supermarkets and some large retail discounters also accept cardboard and other materials for recycling. Some also accept other items, such as clothes, shoes and books for reuse at shelters.
While recycling is important, reusing items such as cardboard boxes is also a good idea. Because of their durability, boxes are an easy, no-brainer to re-tool and put to a new use. Heavy duty boxes can hold books and out-of-season clothes for many months in an attic or storage unit. There are a variety of ways to be green when it comes to cardboard and other paper goods.
