Grade
Recycle-only gaylords
Wet, torn, crushed or missing a bottom. Not for reuse, and worth sending on as OCC.
- Strength we plan
- None
- Looks like
- Wet or mouldy board, torn walls, crushed corners, a missing bottom, or a residue that makes the box unfit.
- Who usually buys it
- Plants and warehouses with worn-out stock, clean-outs, damaged-in-transit loads.
- Request note
- Say "recycle" in the notes
A recycle-only gaylord can no longer hold a load safely. It is wet, torn, crushed, stained by what it held, or missing a bottom. It goes on as old corrugated containers, or OCC, which is the best end for a worn-out box: the EPA puts the recycling rate for US corrugated boxes at 96.5 percent in 2018.
What it looks like
Wet or mouldy board, torn walls, crushed corners, a missing bottom, or a residue that makes the box unfit.
What to do with it
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can it carry a load again? | No |
| Is it worth listing for sale? | No; send it on as OCC |
| What should I count? | Each box, flat or assembled |
| What should I keep apart? | Wet boxes from dry ones; anything that held a residue |
| Is a dry, intact box recycle-only? | No: that is Grade C or better |
There is no stack height for a recycle-only box. The question is how to get it out: flatten it if you can, keep it dry, keep it away from loads that must stay clean, and count it.
How to prepare them
- Count them and note the footprint.
- Keep wet boxes away from dry ones.
- Remove liners, slip sheets and any plastic.
- Say where they sit and how soon they must go.
See the grades hub, new or used, the buy desk, the sell desk and recycling.
What to do with a recycle-only box
Flatten it, keep it dry and send it to the paper stream. Take out liners, straps and anything that is not board. If you have many, say how many and where they are, and the recycling pages cover the next step.
Telling recycle-only from Grade C
The line between them is whether the box can still be loaded and lifted. A Grade C box with a taped seam can carry a moderate load once. A recycle-only box cannot hold its own shape: a wet base, a missing bottom or a crushed corner ends its life as a box. If you are unsure, send a photo of the base, because the base is where most boxes give out first.
Questions, answered
What does Recycle-only mean for a gaylord?
Wet, torn, crushed or missing a bottom. Not for reuse, and worth sending on as OCC.
How do I say which grade I want?
Put the grade in the notes of the request, with the wall count and where the boxes will stand.
Request a quote
Or email info@minneapolisgaylords.com.
Sources and last reviewed
Facts on this page were last reviewed 2026-11-11.
- PaperIndex Academy: humidity and corrugated strength: How corrugated board loses compression strength as relative humidity climbs from 50% to 90%.
- AICC: strengthening corrugated against cold weather: Industry guidance on cold weather, condensation between temperature zones, and strength lost over 90 days under load.
- EPA: paper and paperboard material-specific data: United States recycling rates for corrugated boxes and other paper.
- Container Exchanger: new or used gaylord boxes: The same reseller on when new boxes make sense and what used grades mean.