Three Ways to Recycle Cardboard for a More Sustainable Garden
Recycling Cardboard at Sustain DuPage
What can I do with cardboard that can’t be recycled in my bin? What can I do with my empty cardboard rolls? Let me answer these questions by sharing two ways we use nonrecyclable cardboard in our Sustain DuPage Garden, and one way to recycle empty cardboard rolls.
Before using nonrecyclable cardboard in your garden, be sure there is not a lot of writing, color, ink, or grease on the pieces you want to use. Remember: if the cardboard is shiny or thick, it can’t be used in a garden. After choosing the cardboard, you can start using them for a cleaner garden.
One simple, and great way Sustain DuPage uses this cardboard is on our pathways. After covering the paths with cardboard, we put wood chips on top of the cardboard. This helps keep weeds down, so there are minimal weeds to pull on pathways.
Sheet mulching is another way we use nonrecyclable cardboard in the Sustain DuPage Garden. After watering the garden plot in the Fall, we cover it with cardboard. This removes weeds, making our garden ready to plant when Spring comes.
One way to use clean cardboard rolls is for seed starting. For this, you will use your empty, biodegradable toilet paper and paper towel rolls. There is not much prepping required before using your rolls, just cut them into 2–3-inch pieces, and they are ready to use. Add your soil, seeds, and water into the rolls. Once the plants are ready to be transplanted into your garden, they can be planted directly into the soil and the cardboard will decompose. Finally, be sure to water each plant after transplanting and watch them grow strong.
We actively accept clean cardboard donations. So, if you have clean cardboard to spare, instead of recycling it, we’d love for you to bring it to Sustain DuPage’s Garden and support our community pathways!
If this article has piqued your interest and you want to learn more about Sustain DuPage, follow us on our Instagram and sign up for our Newsletter! It releases every month and gets you up to speed on all the latest Sustain DuPage happenings!