# Recycling cardboard, ins and outs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117 "2022-05-07T15:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117/1 "2022-05-07T15:22:03Z")
Does cardboard made from trees need to be separated from cardboard made from bamboo to be recycled? Note: Once that is answered I wouldn’t mind at all if this thread addressed anything and everything good, bad and ugly about recycling stuff. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117/2 "2022-05-07T15:41:40Z")
Bamboo cardboard is pretty much as recyclable as cardboard made from trees. In the end, it is another cellulose fiber material. Bamboo is an excellent growing source of material for both disposable and long term products. It grows very fast and contributes well to the carbon cycle. The materials compost well. It is very much an outstanding renewable resource. * * * Uses where trees are normally used are great but one caveat, the bamboo fibers clothing is kind of bullshit. That is not environmentally friendly at all. It takes a lot chemicals and processing to make this type of fabric. I’m not sure it is better than synthetic fabrics in the end. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117/3 "2022-05-07T15:48:08Z")
But can the two be blended together during the recycling process? Are there cardboard boxes out there that are part wood and part grass (bamboo)? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117/4 "2022-05-07T15:53:02Z")
Probably, but how much bamboo cardboard is in the system at this point? I’ve mainly seen it for food packaging and beverage cups, not something like a corrugated box. From what I’ve read though, as these products move into the waste stream, clean cardboard and paperboard can mix in with other paper products without issue. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117/5 "2022-05-07T16:49:02Z")
Every box I see (I’m in retail) containing merchandise from China is made of bamboo. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-cardboard-ins-and-outs/964117/6 "2022-05-07T17:03:57Z")
In the end, cellulose fibers are pretty much cellulose fibers. There shouldn’t be any issues mixing cardboards.