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AIBU?

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AIBU for people not breaking down cardboard boxes into recycling bins

104 replies

Aerom · 25/07/2026 13:28

Why people don’t bother to flatten down cardboard boxes - cereal boxes to boxes that had stuff delivered in before putting into their recycling bin. Boxes that not flattened take up much space. You are binning air if don’t flatten boxes.

Walking past a lady binning a box which was about a size of two shoe boxes side by side into her recycling bin. She couldn’t put the lid down. I asked if I could help. I flattened the box and placed in bin and could put the lid down.

On recycling bin days - often see boxes intact over hanging the bin. Not just where I live but in the town where I work

OP posts:
TheCountessofLocksley · 25/07/2026 14:05

Mischance · 25/07/2026 13:43

Another trick is to wet the box with hose ... you can then scrunch or roll it up.

this isn’t advised. It causes problems at the recycling/sorting plants. RIP it up or flatten it. Probably takes less time and isn’t a pointless waste of water

https://cardboard.org.uk/news/woes-of-wet-cardboard/

The woes of wet cardboard and how to recycle responsibly | Cardboard Beyond The Box

is paper really better for the Earth than plastic? Here we address the top 3 most common misconceptions around paper.

https://cardboard.org.uk/news/woes-of-wet-cardboard/

khaa2091 · 25/07/2026 13:47

I often use one box and then flatten everything else into it, so would look as though I hadn’t bothered.

i asked my bin lady, who said better for them as everything just chucked in.

DandelionClockSeeds · 25/07/2026 13:43

I flatten some, but I wouldnt do cereal boxes, egg boxes etc. It all fits in, and its really easy to just squish down if needed occasionally.

Mischance · 25/07/2026 13:43

Another trick is to wet the box with hose ... you can then scrunch or roll it up.

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