You don’t even have to invest any money, just your time.
All you have to do is collect used boxes and resell them, but it does require some legwork and effort.
According to the Census Bureau, an estimated 29.8 million people reported living at a different residence in 2020 though the average is somewhere around 50 million.
Cardboard boxes used for packing are purchased from companies like U-Haul and UPS for every move. Once unpacked, these boxes are then discarded in the trash or dropped off at the city recycling bin.
This is such a wasted opportunity since you can resell these boxes to companies that will pay 50 cents to $2 per box depending on its size. They in turn profit by selling the used boxes to customers that are moving.
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Here’s how you can profit from recycling used cardboard boxes:
Table of Contents
Where to Get Cardboard Boxes?
There are a few ways in which you can collect enough boxes to make this worth your while.
Just as I explained in my make money recycling aluminum cans post, this is the legwork required for succeeding here.
1. Look Around the House
Start by searching in your own home. Big boxes are easier to resell and are worth more so keep the smaller ones for your own storage needs. You can resell a wardrobe box with a metal rod for more than $2.
It’s okay if the boxes have writing on them, but they do need to be in good structural condition, and not damaged.
2. Ask Family and Friends
Next check with your family and friends if they have any unwanted cardboard boxes in good condition. They would be happy for the opportunity to get rid of large boxes that were taking up space in their garages, basement or attics.
3. Check Craigslist’s Free Section
Browse through Craigslist and you can find heaps of people wanting to get rid of their used boxes for free. Look through the Free section on Craigslist for free moving boxes. People are always trying to get rid of their moving boxes since they only needed them while moving to a new place.
There is a free section for each city. Search for free cardboard boxes in your city, and then simply pick them up from the curb.
4. U-haul Box Exchange
This is an online forum created by the giant moving company U-haul to allow people who exchange boxes with each other. But people also give away their boxes for free.
5. Freecycle.com
This is a site where people give away free stuff.
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6. Grocery Stores
Perhaps the best place to get cardboard boxes is your local grocery store.
The Save A Lot store in my area always has tons of boxes that they will be happy to get rid of.
7. Liquor Stores
They have lots of thick boxes that are thrown in the garbage pile after the bottles are taken out of them.
8. Starbucks
They receive a few shipments each week and the majority of products come in packed in boxes.
9. Book Stores
Another perfect place to find good boxes as they usually bring in books packed in boxes.
10. Other Local Businesses
There are many other businesses besides the few mentioned above that can be a good source for cardboard boxes.
Businesses usually receive their stock packed in large, sturdy boxes, which are very easy to resell.
You could find businesses giving away their boxes on the Craigslist Free section.
Otherwise, try calling local companies in your area to see if they have any unwanted boxes.
You wouldn’t have to travel far to pick up boxes if you target businesses in your local area.
Do the math: if you collect and resell 250 boxes for a dollar each, that’s $250 in your pocket, so it’s definitely worth the effort in picking up boxes.
If you are also recycling phone books for money, you could hit two birds with one stone.
When checking these places ask for both unused phone books and cardboard boxes.
Where to Sell Used Cardboard Boxes?
You can earn some extra cash by collecting these boxes and reselling them in the “For Sale” category on Craigslist targeting people who are about to move and need boxes to pack things in.
But perhaps the easiest way to cash in your boxes is through specialized websites.
The biggest sites that pay decently for boxes are:
- U-Haul Box Exchange
- ContainerExchanger.com
- Quincy Recycle
- Boxsmart
- BoxCycle.com
- Duffy Box
- UsedCardboardBoxes.com
- ReboxCorp.com
- Sadlers.co.uk (for folks in the U.K.)
You would be looking at earning between 50 cents and $1.50 per box on these sites.
Where to Sell Used Cardboard Boxes Near Me
If the online option doesn’t appeal to you for whatever reason, you can try and find people who buy cardboard boxes near you. You can put an ad on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or any of these top apps for selling locally.
Alternatively, you could take these boxes down to a local recycling center where they recycle anything even paper, cans, plastic and more.
But the amount of money you can get for cardboard boxes in such places is far less than what you could get if you sell to people as storage or moving boxes through the sites mentioned above.
Once you have got the hang of recycling and reselling cardboard boxes using the above methods, get creative and think outside the box so to speak – look for different places to collect boxes and explore alternative avenues of reselling them.
Obviously, the more boxes you collect and resell the more money you will make.
I’ve got 50 tons of bailed cardboard how much do you pay per ton pls email me on ,,,,
Naz/alu@hotmail.com
Thank you
Faisal, I don’t personally buy cardboard boxes. You have to find a recycling center in your town.
Sell me your cardboard e-mail me at (removed email address).
Saul, do you run a recycling business?
Also, I removed your email address. You don’t want to have your email address on an open site where potential scammers and spammers can get it and misuse it.
I have bales of carboard
i have alot
Can you help me find a place where I can sell just cardboard. I’m part of a small manufacturing company and we generate quite a bit of cut cardboard from pallets. I hate to just throw it away.
You can either use one of the 5 sites mentioned in the article to sell to them directly, or you could find a local company. Where do you live?
I live in Richmond and could use some assistance. I have boxes more so for businesses not for moving purposes.
I’ve got like fifty to one hundred boxes from small to the size of my truck bed good shape and broke down any one can lead me in a good direction I’m in spring hill florida
Robert, I don’t know of any specific place in where you live to see used cardboard boxes. I am sure if you search your local yellow pages you’ll find a few.
You can also try another option and that is Boxcycle.com. They make it very easy to list and sell your boxes.
I also get about 30tonnes boxes every week here in Zimbabwe how can I benefit
You will have to see if there are any local recycling centers that may be interested. That would be your best bet since the cost of shipping them to elsewhere would just eat into any profit you ay have.
Hello how are you maybe i can assist you in selling your card board , Please contact me so we can talk…
we have20 millsize bales of clean cardboard , also 15 mill size bales of clear clean plastic . can you advise on how to market same Kind Regards Joe
I want start a cardboard boxes recycling business, so I want to know how do I scale each cardboard to know how much is worth? And where in Gauteng province can I take my recycling?
Manako, scaling it is really just a matter of finding sources where you can collect their “trash” boxes.
As for where in Gauteng province (which I assume is somewhere in South Africa), I have no idea. I am sure you can find out from local sources.
I also get about 30tonnes boxes every week here in Zimbabwe how can I benefit . Thanks.
Yogi, you are going to have to find someone/company local to deal with. Try asking local people to see if anyone knows.
Do you know if the boxes can be broken down prior to recycling but able to be taped back together?
I don’t know about that. Sorry, Tammy.
I have a cabinet company and need to sell the cardboard I live in aynor sc .we have probably 10 ton or better where can I sell it
Your best bet would be local recycling facilities, Amy.
What do you pay per to ? And do you pay cash ? Do your trucks have a digital readout for the exact weight ?
Craig
i want to sell my boxes please do give me a link that i can supply i am from vryburg please do call me