Cardboard…so much more than just layered paper!
At NVC, we are pretty darn savvy about recycling, we can all be proud of that. Recycling bins are stationed around campus in every building and in most classrooms. Recycling is a very worthwhile effort to help save our environment, but it isn’t the only answer for recyclable materials. Reducing our consumption, and reusing items before we recycle them helps to meet our existing everyday needs and to live more lightly on the planet.
For example, most of us have used cardboard boxes to move from home to college dorms, apartments, and houses. We’ve used them for garage, basement and attic storage and even as organizers for garage sales (of said stuff we stored in the garage, basement and attic). We readily think about using cardboard boxes in these ways, and we know they’re recyclable, but how about thinking of cardboard in some other ways too. How about giving that cardboard box another use before it is recycled into the next thing!
Here are 6 suggestions to do just that:
Fire starters. Cardboard, at least the cardboard that isn’t painted or waxed, is flammable and as such works great as a fire starter. Simply cut or tear a strip and light the end before applying it to key points in the fire materials you’ve laid, then toss the cardboard fire starter right into the fire. No more burned thumbs from holding lighters at odd angles to light kindling and no more burned finger tips from holding matches that are too short and burn out before your fire has lit up nicely.
Compost material. Cardboard can be used to layer your compost pile but it is also great to increase the carbon in your compost as the cardboard disintegrates. You could also simply use a cardboard box as the composting bin (outside of course) or use flattened cardboard boxes to layer your bin and balance out the greens and brown decomposing materials. If you do use a box as your composting bin outside, it will work even better if you cut the bottom out of the box to allow the microbes from the existing soil it is sitting on to get in and work their magic.
Seedling starters. While it may be too late in the season to sow seeds right now, you can keep this tip in mind for your spring garden. If you buy eggs in cardboard cartons (not the Styrofoam ones), you can start seeds in the cartons by adding rich soil and seeds to each egg cup and misting lightly with water. The added incentive is that when it comes time to plant the young plants in the ground you needn’t disturb the seedlings, because you can plant the cardboard and seedlings right into your garden; the cardboard will break down as the plants grow. Your plants will thank you!
Weed deterrent. Why spend your hard earned money on weed cloth when you can flatten that old cardboard box and use it to smother and deter weeds…and its free usually. If you put a few layers of cardboard around problem areas, the weeds will struggle to get through. Eventually the cardboard will mulch back into your soil and make it more rich. By utilizing those cardboard boxes that pile up, you are keeping out weeds and enriching your soil. BONUS!
Raised bed gardens. Although cardboard boxes may not be gorgeous as raised beds, they certainly do the task quite well and you don’t have to break your back hoisting lumber or cinder blocks into place to construct said raised garden beds. Simply place them, fill them with rich composted soil, and plant to your heart’s content.
Plant/sapling tree guards. You can use cardboard tubes to protect tender vulnerable young plants and trees from weed whackers by simply cutting tubes in half and taping them around the trunk of plants or young trees for added protection. With the holiday season quickly approaching, cardboard boxes will accumulate quickly. Save them and consider using them in one of the ways above or come up with your own. Give that box a chance to do one more good in the world before it is recycled into the next version of itself!
Contributed by NVC Staffer Sabrina Carey