Kartonreste

Kartonreste, literally “cardboard remnants” in German, denotes waste composed of cardboard and corrugated fiberboard arising from households, retail, offices, and industrial packaging activities. It is a major component of the paper recycling stream and is typically collected separately from other materials to support closed-loop recycling.

Composition and characteristics: Kartonreste mainly consist of cellulose fibers, with varying grammage, thickness, and coating depending on source. They may contain adhesives, printing inks, varnishes, or food-contact residues. Clean, dry cartons are easier to recycle than soiled or composite materials.

Processing: In recycling facilities, Kartonreste are sorted, baled, and transported to pulping lines. The material is repulped, mechanically refined, and de-inked if required. Recovered fibers are refined and formed into new paperboard products, such as corrugated board or liner and medium for packaging. Contaminants are separated and removed during processing.

Environmental and regulatory context: Recycling Kartonreste saves virgin fibers, reduces waste volume, and lowers energy and water use compared with virgin production. Contamination from food residue, plastics, or coatings can reduce fiber quality and recycling viability. Regulations in Germany and the European Union govern collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging waste under waste framework directives and national packaging laws.

Applications and disposal pathways: Recycled Kartonreste are used to manufacture new cardboard boxes, cartons, packaging material, and sometimes building materials like fiberboard. If recycling is not possible, the material may be landfilled or incinerated for energy recovery in accordance with local waste management policies.