Cardboard & brown paper - What happens to your waste and recycling?

View this page in Welsh / Gweld y tudalen hwn yn Gymraeg

Why is it important to recycle cardboard?

When we recycle cardboard, we use less energy compared to using new, raw or virgin materials to create new cardboard. This reduces our carbon emissions, therefore helping to prevent climate change.

What happens to cardboard recycling after it is collected?

The Vale of Glamorgan Council collects cardboard and brown paper recycling from residents every week.

Once collected, your cardboard recycling is brought by our crews to a local recycling centre.

It is then taken to a mill to be recycled, where it is pulped with water and chemicals to separate the fibres and screened to remove inks, plastic film, paper clips, staples and glue.

After cleaning, colouring agents may be added before a mixture of 1% pulp and 99% fibre is sprayed on to a fast-moving mesh which forms the sheet and removes the water.

The sheet is pressed to remove water and then rolled and heated to achieve the correct moisture content and thickness. Once dry, the cardboard is wound into huge rolls.

Watch the video to learn more about the process:

View this page in Welsh / Gweld y tudalen hwn yn Gymraeg

Why is it important to recycle cardboard?

When we recycle cardboard, we use less energy compared to using new, raw or virgin materials to create new cardboard. This reduces our carbon emissions, therefore helping to prevent climate change.

What happens to cardboard recycling after it is collected?

The Vale of Glamorgan Council collects cardboard and brown paper recycling from residents every week.

Once collected, your cardboard recycling is brought by our crews to a local recycling centre.

It is then taken to a mill to be recycled, where it is pulped with water and chemicals to separate the fibres and screened to remove inks, plastic film, paper clips, staples and glue.

After cleaning, colouring agents may be added before a mixture of 1% pulp and 99% fibre is sprayed on to a fast-moving mesh which forms the sheet and removes the water.

The sheet is pressed to remove water and then rolled and heated to achieve the correct moisture content and thickness. Once dry, the cardboard is wound into huge rolls.

Watch the video to learn more about the process: