Recycling cardboard is a high-impact way to make a difference in the amount of solid waste that goes to landfills. Sometimes those who wish to recycle forget an important step in the process, removal of the packaging materials inside the cardboard container. 

Foam packaging mixed with cardboard is a major contaminant in recycling; you must remove all foam, bubble wrap, and plastic before flattening and recycling the cardboard box, as these materials jam machinery and cannot be recycled in the same process.

Make sure you remove the packaging from the cardboard and throw it away with your municipal solid waste, which may be curbside pick-up or in a dumpster. If you are concerned that the foam packaging takes too much space in your municipal solid waste, simply break the foam up in a tote or garbage can which will reduce its size, then dump it into a garbage bag. 

Many people are receiving Christmas gifts that arrive in cardboard boxes right now. Please recycle those cardboard containers and please recycle responsibly.