Frequently Asked Questions

Used boxes often cost less than comparable new boxes, but the difference varies with the type, size, grade, quantity, and your location. Box Recycle does not publish prices. Pricing comes by quote from partner suppliers, so you can compare it with what you pay now before you decide.

Used boxes are commonly sold in three grades. Grade A boxes look nearly new with minimal wear, which suits customer-facing shipments. Grade B boxes have light wear such as minor scuffs or old labels. Grade C boxes show visible wear such as creases, markings, or tape residue, and usually suit storage, internal moves, or less demanding shipping. Definitions vary by partner supplier, so ask how yours grades its boxes.

Box Recycle sets no minimum on quote requests. Partner suppliers may have their own, because freight can make very small orders impractical. Include your quantity in your request and the supplier can tell you what works.

Timing is set by the partner supplier and depends on what is available, where it is, and how it ships. Include your deadline in your request and ask the supplier to confirm timing in your quote.

Ask the partner supplier who quotes you. Seeing a sample or a photo is a sensible way to check a grade before a larger order. Whether samples are available, and whether there is a charge, is up to the supplier.

Box Recycle does not sell boxes, so returns are handled by the partner supplier you order from. Terms vary, so ask what happens if boxes do not match the grade you ordered before you confirm.

Ask the partner supplier who quotes you. If you use boxes regularly, mention how many and how often in your request. Some suppliers may be able to arrange repeat orders, depending on what they have and where you are.

Yes. Send the dimensions you need and a partner supplier can look for used boxes that match or a custom option. Custom sizing is usually possible for corrugated boxes, gaylords, and specialty containers, but availability and minimums depend on the supplier.

Beyond boxes, you can ask about pallets, pallet caps and dividers, stretch wrap, packing paper, bubble wrap, edge protectors, and gaylord liners. Add them to your quote request and a partner supplier can tell you what it can provide.

You can send a request for used corrugated containers of most kinds, including gaylords, standard shipping boxes, specialty containers, die-cut boxes, and pallets, as well as cardboard bales and loose cardboard in bulk. Photos and a description help a partner supplier decide whether it can make an offer.

Offers come from partner suppliers and usually depend on the type, size, condition, and quantity of your boxes, along with current market rates for used containers and recycled fiber and the cost of pickup. A supplier may ask for photos before making an offer.

Pickup is available through partner suppliers, depending on your area and the size of the load. Any pickup charge is set by the supplier, so ask that it be spelled out in the offer.

Payment is arranged directly with the partner supplier who buys your boxes. Ask how and when it pays when you receive the offer.

Box Recycle sets no minimum on requests. In practice, pickups tend to make more sense for larger loads, and each partner supplier decides what it can take. If you generate a steady stream of boxes, say so, since small amounts can add up over time.

Boxes too damaged to reuse may only have value as recyclable material, if at all. Mention any damage in your request. Boxes contaminated with hazardous substances, food waste, or mold are generally not accepted.

If you generate a consistent flow of used boxes, say so in your request. Any agreement on volumes, pickup frequency, or pricing would be between you and the partner supplier.

You are welcome to send a request, whether you are a business or an individual. Whether a partner supplier can take the load depends mainly on the quantity, condition, and location.

Worn corrugated is generally baled and sent to paper mills, where it is pulped and made into new paper products such as linerboard and medium. That is why keeping cardboard clean and dry matters.

Send a request with the type of material, rough volume, and how often you need collection. A partner supplier may be able to help, depending on your area. Your local hauler or municipal program is also worth checking.

Rules vary by program. Common exclusions include wax-coated cardboard, cardboard contaminated with hazardous materials, grease-soaked items such as heavily soiled pizza boxes, moldy material, and foam packaging. Check with your local program or the partner supplier if you are unsure.

Mention them in your request. Stretch wrap, shrink film, wooden pallets, and mixed paper are recyclable in many places, but what a partner supplier can take varies. For metals, glass, or electronics, look for a specialist recycler in your area.

Generally, yes. Recycling puts the fiber back to use in new paper products. It still takes transport, energy, and water, so if a box is still sound, reusing it is usually the better first step.

We take requests from across the US, and delivery is available through partner suppliers. Availability depends on partner suppliers in your area. Tell us whether the address is a commercial dock or a residential location, since that affects how freight can be delivered.

Freight usually depends on the order size, total weight, dimensions, distance, and how the load is delivered. The partner supplier sets the cost, so ask that it be included in your quote.

Box Recycle has no pickup location, but some partner suppliers may allow customer pickup. Mention it in your request, especially if you have a suitable vehicle for the load.

That depends on the partner supplier and the carrier. If you are working to a deadline, include it in your request and ask about options and costs before you confirm.

Tracking depends on the partner supplier and carrier handling your shipment. Ask how you will get updates when you confirm your order.

Note any visible damage on the carrier delivery receipt, take photos, and contact the partner supplier you ordered from as soon as you can. The supplier handles the order, and its terms apply, so it helps to know them before you confirm.

Generally not. Pallet and freight deliveries need a physical address where a carrier can unload. If you only have a PO box, give an alternate address such as a workplace.

Take photos and contact the partner supplier you ordered from promptly. Grades and terms vary by partner supplier, so it is worth agreeing what the grade means, and what happens if boxes fall short, before you confirm.

Some used boxes can work as outer shipping cartons for sealed, packaged products, depending on their history and condition. For direct food contact, use new packaging made for that purpose, because the past contents of a used box may be unknown. Check current regulations for your product.

They can. Used boxes pick up odors and residues from what they held and where they were stored, and lower grades are more likely to show it. If this matters for your use, tell the partner supplier and ask to see a sample or photos.

Corrugated board generally is not washed, because moisture weakens it. Preparation, where it happens, usually means removing old labels, loose tape, and debris. It varies by partner supplier and grade.

Yes. Say which grade you want in your request, and a partner supplier can tell you what it can offer. Some buyers use a higher grade for outbound shipping and a lower one for internal storage.

Grades mainly describe visible condition, not a tested strength. A box is rated when new, by Edge Crush Test (ECT) or burst strength, and creases, crushed flutes, moisture, or repeated use can reduce how well it performs. For heavy loads or tall stacks, check the boxes yourself and test them with your product.

Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers. It is based on the box type, size, condition grade, and quantity, plus delivery or pickup. Box Recycle does not publish a price list, since used packaging depends on what is available near you.

No. Sending a quote request is free and carries no obligation.

It often does, partly because freight per box tends to fall as a load gets bigger. Include your full quantity in your request and ask the partner supplier how pricing changes at different volumes.

You arrange payment directly with the partner supplier who quotes you, and that supplier sets its own terms. This site does not take payment for boxes.

Yes, it can. Used box prices can move with supply and demand in the corrugated market, along with freight costs. Ask how long your quote is valid.

Reusing a box avoids making a new one, along with the raw materials, energy, and water that go into it. The box also stays out of the waste stream for longer.

Reuse generally comes first. A reused box needs little more than transport to its next user, while recycling involves baling, shipping to a mill, pulping, and forming new board. Recycling is still a good outcome for a box that can no longer be reused.

Not always. A box that is too weak for the load can lead to damaged goods, and shipping used boxes a long distance has its own footprint. Choose a grade and strength that suit the job, and a supplier close to you where possible.

Send the length, width, and height you need and a partner supplier can tell you what it can source. Gaylords and specialty containers can also come in different wall heights, base sizes, and flap styles, depending on the supplier.

It depends on the partner supplier, the product, and the amount of custom work involved. Tell us the quantity you need, even if it is small, and ask whether a close match in a standard size would work.

Lead times are set by the partner supplier and depend on the complexity of the order and what is available. Ask for an estimate in your quote so you can plan around it.

Some partner suppliers may offer printing or labels. Include your artwork needs in your request. Used boxes often carry old print, so labels can be a simpler option for smaller runs.

Our size guide and blog explain box sizes, flute types, and strength ratings. A partner supplier can also advise on your specific product when it follows up on your request.

It is a good idea to test a sample with your actual product before a full custom order. Ask the partner supplier whether samples are possible and whether there is a charge.