Gaylord and cardboard recycling pickup
For a recycling pickup, tell us how many boxes, how they sit, whether they are flat, and where the dock is; we answer by email with what we can do.
What a pickup request needs
Cardboard recycling pickup is the second most common thing people ask us for after used boxes. It sounds simple. In practice it turns on four facts, and a request that has them gets a faster, clearer reply.
We serve Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties in New Jersey, and New Castle County in Delaware. Say your ZIP and we tell you honestly whether the request fits.
The four facts
| Fact | Example of how to say it |
|---|---|
| How many | A rough count of boxes or pallets |
| What shape | Flat on pallets, or set up and loose |
| What condition | Dry or wet, whole or torn |
| Where | Dock or yard, ground level or raised, truck access |
If part of the pile is sellable, say so, and we will sort it. A dry set-up Grade A box does not belong on a baler truck.
Getting the pile ready
- Remove liners, strapping, banding and plastic wrap.
- Keep it under a roof if you can. Rain turns OCC into soggy, heavy, low-value stock.
- Flatten what you can. A flat box takes a fraction of the truck.
- Keep the path clear: a pallet jack lane, a dock plate, room to turn.
Cold is its own problem: board gets brittle and moisture from temperature swings makes condensation.
What we do not say here
We do not post prices, minimums, or turnaround on this site, and we do not say who pays freight. Those terms are not set on the page, so we will not invent them. When you send a request we reply by email with what we can offer for your pile.
If your pile is large, see the trailer loads page; if it is mixed good and bad boxes, send one request and we sort it. Read OCC and bale prices for why the answer is not a single number.
Preparing different kinds of piles
| Pile | Do first | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat boxes on pallets | Band them and keep covered | Rain and wind |
| Set-up boxes in a corner | Knock down, remove strapping | Staples and glue |
| Loose cardboard in a gaylord | Empty it, keep the box separate | Mixed trash |
| Boxes with liners | Strip and bag the film | Plastic in the bale |
| Outdoor yard pile | Tarp it, move what you can inside | Standing water |
Common pickup snags
- Locked gate or closed dock. Say who can open it and when.
- No room for a truck to turn. Tell us about tight yards and low overhead wires.
- Mixed material. Pallets, plastic wrap and cardboard together slow the load.
- Wet piles. Weight rises and quality falls.
- Unknown quantities. A photo with something for scale beats an estimate.
Questions people ask
Do you take other cardboard besides gaylords?
Ask on the form. Say what else is in the pile.
Is pickup free?
We state no prices on this site. Ask, and we answer by email.
What if the pile is outdoors?
Say so. Outdoor piles are often wet.
Sources
- AICC: corrugated and cold or humid storage, last reviewed November 11, 2026
- EPA: paper and paperboard, material-specific data, last reviewed November 11, 2026
Ask about recycling
Tell us what has gone wet or torn and how much of it there is. We reply by email.
Prefer email? Write to info@phillygaylords.com.