How can I reuse or recycle … lots of cardboard tubes?

I’ve had an email from Andrew Urban:

I have something that needs to be recycle and actually is recyclable but maybe companies will charge a lot to take them.

It’s a 12″ long 3″ wide non-corrugated cardboard tube. My company uses around 3,000 a week of these tubes and we need a environmentally friendly way to dispose of them.

We have considered using a wood chipper to chop them into smaller pieces and then send them to a landfill but that will only solve our waste issue not our recycling issue.

This is probably on a lot bigger scale than most of the commenters on this site usually think about but if anyone’s got any ideas at all, post a comment below and maybe Andrew and his company will be able to scale it up and save all that landfill space.


86 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … lots of cardboard tubes?”


  1. JR says:

    We are in search of cardboard tubing 1 1/2″ to 2″ either inside or outside diameter and lenghts of 54″ or 60″ for our vinyl we ship out.
    We reuse these between or company and others and if someone would like to help us out we could make some kind of offer to take them off you’re hands.
    Please post any comments to my email please jr@rittenhouserestorations.com

    Thank You

    • bill van auken says:

      In reference to cardboard tubes, I am looking for 8 foot lengths with a diameter of 1 1/2 to 2 inches and i have a business that is in dire need of these tubes. If you have them or have a way of getting them. please contact me. thanks

      Bill v. 856 813 0010

  2. Postal tubes says:

    I think the best thing here is to contact local companies that might use them due to the bulkiness of postal tubes.

  3. Lizzy says:

    Donate some to schools for crafts, you could also stuff them with waste paper and use them as paper logs as fuel.

  4. Asif says:

    Hi

    I am looking to purchase 3″ dia cardboard cores with wall thickness of 10 to 12mm. They needs to be 16″ or longer.

    If any has these cores or can point me the right direction please get in touch. asif@oscrecycling.co.uk

    Thanks
    Asif

    • Steve says:

      I have access to hundreds or maybe thousands of thick tubes that match your description of thickness but maybe a bit larger in diameter. They can be cut to any length you need. Contact me at my email address: body-work@comcast .net and we’ll discuss it.

  5. Anonymous says:

    rosy vacuum marvelling aggressors

  6. ACE says:

    We have approximately 1500 very sturdy hollow cardboard tubes per month. These are currently sent for recycling but interested in sending them for reuse. Location is Angus, Scotland

    Dimensions are:
    Height: 300 mm
    Outer Diameter: 104 mm
    Inner Diameter: 94 mm

    j514651@abertay.ac.uk

  7. costcutter carpets says:

    have large quantity of cardboard poles from centre
    of carpets sizes 1.5m-3.00m aprox have large number of these if they are of use to anybody.
    just collect them out my way for free ???

  8. J Tweed says:

    We could take about 500 per year off your hands. Where are you located?

  9. steven says:

    i have a few hundred maybe a thousand cardboard cores L= 1.2m x D 2″
    with a 2mm wall thickness….open to offers

  10. Walter says:

    We have some 250/300 wound board tubes to dispose of. All are 140 cm. long.
    The I.D’s are; 30.5 cm. 24 cm., and 17 cm., with a wall thickness of 5.5-6.0 mm.
    (They are currently stored with the two smaller tubes in the 30.5 cm tube.
    Most are in mint condition however a few have slight indentations from racking

  11. Sarah Lewis says:

    For anyone with tubes (such as old carpet tubes) that they don’t need please get in contact with me. I am looking for these and would very much appreciate them! I actually came across the site whilst searching for these on Google. I live in Cardiff, but will travel to collect. I only require 5 – 10 as they are needed for a project.
    Many thanks!
    Sarah

  12. Sarah Lewis says:

    …. My Email address is

    mailmenow@soon.com

  13. Cat says:

    Hi,

    I’m looking for a cardboard tubing about 10mm thick, 15cm in diameter and around 1.5m in height to make a stand with. If you are in the London area and have one lying around that you want to dispose, can you please contact me?

    Thanks,
    Cat

    sunset1999@hotmail.com

  14. Angelika says:

    I have hundreds of cardboard cores that vary from 3-5 feet in length, about 20 inches in diameter, and about 3/8-in thickness. Can anybody use them, or point me in the right direction of where I can recycle them?

    • sam roberson says:

      Angelika
      interested in using some of your tubes to transport kayaks in, where are you based? would need about 35ft worth.
      Thanks
      Sam

  15. sam roberson says:

    Looking for cardboard tube to ship sea kayaks in. Need to be 55cm diameter and enough to make up to 11m in length (can be sections to fit together.
    Thanks
    Sam

  16. Stephen says:

    Hi,

    We currently have large numbers of sturdy cardboard cores internal diameter 75mm external diameter 100 to 105mm. Varying in length from 510mm to 2050mm. Company based in Northumberland looking for regular pick ups for FOC on going recycling operation. If you are interested and can meet criteria please contact.

    stephen.lowdon@sca.com

  17. Daryl says:

    Hello all,

    I’m a production artist and go thru rolls of paper like crazy…all day everyday. I use a 60″ printer…so my rolls consist of ( 36″, 38″, 50″ and 60″)

    The width for 38″ is as follows:
    -WIDTH: 38in
    -CORE: 3in

    The width for 36
    -WIDTH 36in
    -CORE 2in

    The width for 50
    -WIDTH 50in
    -CORE 2in

    The width for 60
    -WIDTH 60in
    -CORE 3in

    If your interested…I’ll work with yo at a low cost.

    Thanks,
    D

  18. Just wondering if anyone near Plymouth has a problem ridding themselves of cardboard tubes, I run a lighting company and these would be very useful indeed. We could collect from S Devon area and would take up to 500 or 50 a month regularly.. please contact me direct if you are able to help – genius discussion…

    small cardboard boxes in Plymouth as well please..6 years of trading and we’ve never bought a box!! We practice what we preach..



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