Can you recycle cardboard?

♻️ RecycleYes — flatten it and put it in the blue recycling cart.

Clean, dry cardboard is one of the most recyclable materials. Break down boxes flat and put them in the blue recycling cart. The main exception is greasy or food-soiled cardboard (like a pizza box), which goes in the green compost cart.

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Curbside (blue cart)

Corrugated shipping boxes, cereal and cracker boxes (remove the plastic liner), shoe boxes, and paperboard all recycle. Flatten them so they don't fill the cart and so the sorting line can handle them, and pull off large amounts of tape and any packing foam or plastic.

Large amounts / big pieces

If you have more than fits in your cart (after a move or the holidays), flatten and stack it beside the cart on pickup day, or take it to a recycling center — search 'cardboard recycling near me.' Many centers and some retailers take clean cardboard by the load.

What doesn't recycle

Wax-coated boxes (some produce boxes) and grease-soaked cardboard are the exceptions — greasy pieces go to compost, wax-coated to trash.

Cardboard — quick FAQ

Does Home Depot accept cardboard for recycling?
Home Depot doesn't offer public cardboard recycling. Use your curbside blue cart, or a local recycling center for large amounts.
How do I get rid of large pieces of cardboard?
Flatten and cut them down to fit your recycling cart, stack extra flattened cardboard beside the cart on collection day, or take a load to a recycling center.
Where can I recycle cardboard near me?
Your curbside blue recycling cart is easiest. For big volumes, search 'cardboard recycling near me' for a drop-off center.
Do I need to remove tape from cardboard?
Pull off large strips of packing tape and any plastic or foam. A little tape is fine — it's separated during processing.

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