What To Do With Used Moving Boxes
After your move, you probably have a pile of cardboard boxes. These boxes held your important things. Before recycling, remember that in 2023, the U.S. recycled almost 33 million tons of cardboard. This means a recycling rate of 71-76%. Worse yet, cardboard and paper in U.S. landfills equal about $4 billion in lost value. This guide shows you how to reuse boxes in smart, fun, and green ways.
1. Reuse for Storage and Internal Logistics
Sturdy moving boxes offer excellent storage solutions for both residential and commercial spaces:
For Home Use
Seasonal Storage: Label boxes for holiday decorations, winter clothes, and kids’ old items.
Drawer Dividers: Cut boxes to create custom compartments for organizing drawers
Closet Organization: Use smaller boxes to separate items on closet shelves
Digital Media Storage: Use small boxes to sort DVDs, video games, and electronic gear.
For Business Use
Warehouse Organization: Create low-cost storage bins for inventory, tools, or supplies
Returns Processing: Designate boxes for managing product returns
Agricultural Applications: Use large cartons for produce staging or equipment storage
Pro Tip: Use packing tape to strengthen box corners. This helps when storing heavier items.
2. Resell or Give Away Locally
The market for used moving boxes is strong. Many platforms help with the exchange:
Selling Options
Buyback Programs: Many moving companies will buy back unused or gently used boxes
Online Marketplaces: Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace
RePackify: A specialized platform for selling used packaging materials
Donation Alternatives
Neighborhood Exchange: Offer boxes to neighbors through community apps or bulletin boards
Friends and Family: Share with anyone planning an upcoming move
Freecycle Network: Join this community dedicated to giving away useful items
Curbside Giveaway: Place flattened boxes at the curb with a “Free Moving Boxes” sign
Local Spotlight: In Austin, Texas, EcoBox sells used moving boxes and shipping supplies. You can save 40% compared to buying new boxes.
3. Transform into Functional Household Items
You can turn moving boxes into useful and stylish items for your home:
Storage Solutions
Fabric-Covered Organizers: Make your boxes look great! You can paint them or wrap them in fabric or paper.
Shoe Racks: Convert sturdy boxes into multi-tier shoe storage systems
Cord Organizers: Use shoe boxes. Place toilet paper rolls inside as dividers. This keeps small cords tangle-free.
Drawer Dividers: Cut cardboard to create custom compartments in drawers for better organization
Furniture Projects
End Tables: Follow step-by-step instructions to create sturdy end tables or occasional tables from layered cardboard
Shelving Units: Build simple shelving for lightweight items
Decorative Bookcases: Transform boxes into attractive bookcases with strategic cutting and decorative paper
DIY Tip: When making cardboard furniture, alternate the “grain” direction of cardboard layers to significantly increase strength and durability.
4. Garden and Outdoor Applications
Cardboard has several valuable uses in the garden and outdoor spaces:
Gardening Uses
Weed Barriers: Lay flattened boxes under mulch to naturally suppress weeds
Compost Material: Shred cardboard to add as a useful “brown” part for composting. Aim for a 50/50 mix of green/wet and brown/dry materials by volume.
Insulation: In winter, cover compost heaps with cardboard. This keeps heat in and boosts efficiency.
Biodegradable Seed Pots: Create free, environmentally friendly seed starters from toilet paper tubes
Potato Chitting: Use egg cartons to sprout potatoes before planting
Outdoor Protection
Painting Projects: Use as ground covering for outdoor painting projects
Moving Equipment: Create temporary pathways or protection when moving heavy items outdoors
Garden Tip: Use cardboard in your garden, but skip glossy or heavily printed types. Plain kraft cardboard breaks down better and adds fewer chemicals to your soil.
5. Kid-Friendly Creative Projects
Cardboard boxes offer endless possibilities for children’s entertainment and education:
Play Structures
Cardboard Playhouses: Create custom playhouses, forts, or castles with larger boxes
Pet Toys: Design scratching posts for cats or tunnels for small animals
Indoor Games: Build marble shooting games, whack-a-mole, or coin pushers
Vehicles: Transform boxes into cars, trains, or rockets for imaginative play
Educational Projects
Science Experiments: Construct simple machines like levers or pulleys using cardboard components
Dioramas: Create 3D scenes for school projects
Art Canvases: Use cardboard as a sturdy base for paintings and mixed-media art
Family Activity: Teach kids about sustainability by turning waste into fun items. This skill boosts creativity and helps them care for the environment.
6. Artistic and Decorative Upcycling
Transform ordinary cardboard into beautiful home décor with these creative ideas:
Wall Art and Décor
Fabric-Wrapped Displays: Cover cardboard pieces with vintage fabric to showcase collectibles or photos
Cardboard Hearts: Create seasonal garlands and banners for holidays and celebrations
Coasters: Turn decorative cardboard box interiors into unique drink coasters
Logo Crafts: Repurpose boxes with interesting graphics or logos into statement pieces
Practical Décor Items
Bird Feeders: Construct environmentally friendly bird feeders using peanut butter and birdseed
Gift Boxes: Transform sturdy cardboard into custom gift packaging
Wall Organizers: Create mail sorters, jewelry displays, or office organizers
Homemade Flower Press: Build a reusable flower press for preserving botanicals
Designer Tip: To look polished, wrap cardboard projects in paper, fabric, or spray paint. Match these materials to your décor scheme.
7. Commercial and Business Applications
Businesses can find numerous practical uses for used cardboard boxes:
Retail and Office Solutions
Shipping Preparation: Repurpose boxes for outgoing shipments
Display Fixtures: Create temporary retail displays or storage solutions
Shipping Materials: Cut cardboard into protective padding for fragile items
File Storage: Organize documents and files in labeled cardboard containers
Specialized Business Uses
Body Shop Materials: Donate cardboard to auto body shops. They use it to cover car windows while spray painting.
Packaging Design: Test packaging prototypes using recycled materials
Exhibition Displays: Create lightweight, temporary display stands for trade shows
Tip for Business Sustainability: Show how you recycle cardboard in reports and ads.
8. Environmental Impact and Recycling
When boxes are beyond reuse, proper recycling is crucial:
Recycling Preparation
Break Down Flat: Ensure boxes are completely flattened before recycling
Remove Contaminants: Take off all tape, staples, and non-paper materials
Keep Dry: Store broken boxes in a dry spot. Wet cardboard can be turned away by recycling centers.
Environmental Benefits
Recycling one ton of cardboard saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,000 kilowatts of electricity.
Landfill Reduction: Cardboard takes up a lot of space in landfills. It also releases methane while breaking down.
Economic Value: Recycling cardboard helps build a circular economy. It can capture billions in economic value.
Recycling Fact: Cardboard recycles well in areas with good programs. This makes it an environmental success when managed well.
Final Thoughts: Making a Difference Box by Box
Moving boxes represent both a challenge and an opportunity. Most households use about 60 boxes when moving. By reusing them, you can help the environment and save money. Before sending cardboard to recycling:
Assess Quality: Inspect each box for damage and reuse potential
Prioritize Options: Consider the hierarchy of reuse, resale, donation, and finally recycling
Get Creative: Try to think of one new way to reuse special boxes.
Share Ideas: Tell others in your community about this box surplus.
Using cardboard boxes can help you save money and be creative. If you’re moving, organizing, or running a business, reuse these boxes. It shows you care about the environment. In a world where packaging waste is rising due to online shopping, every reused box matters. Online shopping has grown by over 67% lately, so giving boxes a second life helps a lot.