With the rapid growth of e-commerce and logistics, cardboard packaging usage has surged, making cardboard recycling a crucial part of resource recovery. However, untreated cardboard takes up excessive space, increasing transportation costs. Direct landfilling or incineration not only wastes resources but also harms the environment. Many paper and packaging manufacturers face challenges in managing waste such as trimmings and defective products, which occupy storage space and raise disposal costs. Therefore, shredding for volume reduction and compression pressing are key steps in efficient cardboard recycling.
Why Shredding is Necessary?
Loose cardboard stacks are inefficient to transport. Shredding reduces volume by 50%-70%, making subsequent sorting, melting, or pressing easier. GEP ECOTECH's Double-Shaft Shredder is the ideal solution:
- Powerful Shredding: Low-speed, high-torque design easily processes corrugated cardboard and rigid cartons without jamming.
- Smart & Safe: Equipped with overload protection and auto-reverse functions for stable operation.
- Eco-Friendly: Enclosed structure minimizes dust emissions, meeting environmental standards for VOC and particulate control.
Pressing for Maximum Space Savings
Shredded cardboard should be further compressed to optimize logistics. GEP ECOTECH's GHP Series Horizontal Hydraulic Cardboard Press stands out. Loose cardboard, after being shredded,can be pressed into blocks of approximately 1200×1100×800 mm, with each press weighing 500–700 kg, depending on compaction settings. This allows more material to be loaded per truck, reducing fuel consumption and transport frequency. It has the following features:
- High-Pressure Compression: Up to 200 tons of force, compacting loose cardboard into dense blocks (3-5x denser), drastically cutting transport and storage costs.
- Multi-Material Compatibility: Handles not only cardboard but also plastics, foam, sponge, and other lightweight waste.
- Automated Operation: PLC control system enables one-touch operation, improving efficiency while reducing labor.
Resource Recycling After Shredding & Pressing
Processed cardboard bales produced by GEP ECOTECH's systems serve multiple valuable purposes in the circular economy. The compacted bales are ideal feedstock for paper mills, where they undergo pulping processes to create 100% recycled paper products - from new packaging materials to office paper. Beyond traditional recycling, these pressed cardboard blocks can be transformed into high-performance insulation materials for construction applications, offering superior thermal and acoustic properties compared to conventional options.
For energy recovery, the shredded and baled cardboard serves as excellent biomass fuel with a high calorific value (approximately 16-18 MJ/kg), making it suitable for co-firing in industrial boilers or dedicated waste-to-energy plants. Some innovative applications include using processed cardboard fibers in composite materials for furniture manufacturing or as a base material for biodegradable plant pots in horticulture.
Why Choose GEP ECOTECH?
With over a decade of expertise in waste processing, GEP ECOTECH provides complete shredding, sorting, and pressing solutions, serving clients in 70+ countries. We offer customized systems tailored to your production needs. By combining shredding + pressing, cardboard recycling becomes more efficient and sustainable, helping businesses achieve both economic and environmental benefits!
Contact GEP ECOTECH Today for Your Cardboard Recycling Solution!
