Guide: Getting rid of cardboard waste after moving in Copenhagen
TL;DR: To get rid of a large amount of cardboard after a move in Copenhagen, you either fold the boxes flat (and ideally tear them up) for your courtyard's cardboard bin, tie them tightly with string for the council's bulky waste collection, or drive the roughly 20 kilos of flattened cardboard to the recycling centre by car.
When you finally sink into the sofa after spending hours unpacking your moving boxes, there's a big pile of folded boxes in the corner. A move is hassle enough already (our moving checklist keeps track of the rest), but now you're left with a massive logistics task: how do you get rid of dozens of flat-packed DIY-store boxes without a car? Here's an overview of the City of Copenhagen's actual rules – and the unfiltered maths on what it costs in time and hassle.
The raw, unfiltered maths: How much space does the cardboard take up after your move?
Takeaway: 30 standard moving boxes come to around 20 kilos and 1,740 litres of unfolded cardboard, which takes time to prepare because the council requires it to be folded.
Before you consider just dumping it all in the courtyard, it's worth understanding the physics and scale of the cardboard you're dealing with. For an average flat (approx. 30 standard single-use moving boxes in single-wall corrugated cardboard – work out your own number here), the maths looks like this:
- Weight: Approx. 19-20 kg of clean cardboard (a typical moving box weighs approx. 0.64 kg).
- Volume: A standard box typically holds 58 litres. 30 boxes add up to a total volume of approx. 1,740 litres if they aren't folded.
- Time spent: Taking the boxes apart by hand, removing packing tape and preparing the cardboard takes 1.5 - 2 minutes per box on average. That's the best part of an hour of pure physical work, just to get the waste ready.
3 ways to get rid of cardboard boxes and bulky waste in Copenhagen
According to the City of Copenhagen, all cardboard must be clean, dry and folded flat before it's disposed of. When it comes to moving boxes, you really have three options for following the waste sorting rules.
1. The courtyard cardboard bin (Takes time and elbow grease)
Takeaway: The council asks you to fold the boxes completely flat and ideally tear them up, so there's room for more in the bin.
The City of Copenhagen's cardboard bins in residential courtyards are typically 660 litres. The council's official guidance on cardboard reads: "Remember to fold the cardboard and ideally tear it into pieces before you throw it out. That way it takes up less space, and there's room for more."
If you just cram unfolded or half-folded moving boxes into the bin, it fills up in no time and the boxes can get wedged. If you leave the boxes on the ground next to the bin instead, the waste collectors generally won't take them, which can mean your housing association has to order (and pay for) an extra collection.
2. Bulky waste via the City of Copenhagen (Takes planning and string)
Takeaway: Every box has to be folded flat and tied with string before the collectors will take it as bulky waste.
Large pieces of cardboard, including moving boxes, can be collected as bulky waste. But there are clear rules: according to the City of Copenhagen's bulky waste guidelines, the cardboard must not be put in plastic bags or just left in loose piles. It must be folded, bundled and tied together. If you don't have room in your flat to store the tied bundles for the weeks it may take before the bulky waste truck comes by your building, this option is often impractical.
3. Drive it to the recycling centre yourself (Takes a car and rental fees)
Takeaway: If you go to your local recycling centre without a car of your own, you'll usually need to rent a shared car, as large amounts of cardboard can be hard to handle on a bike.
Balancing 20 kilos of loose, flapping DIY-store cardboard on a cargo bike over Knippelsbro in a strong wind is a recipe for a bad Saturday. The alternative is renting a Share Now or a Freetrailer purely to drive the waste to one of ARC's (Amager Resource Centre) recycling centres. They have large containers where the boxes can easily be dropped off at their full, flat length (e.g. at Borgervænget, Bispeengen or Sydhavnen Recycling Centre).
See what the trip really costs in per-minute rates and fees in our guide to car sharing for your move.
The verdict: What does it cost in time and money?
Takeaway: Even though single-use boxes are cheap to buy, getting rid of them can easily cost up to 300 kr. in car rental plus several hours of work, which makes renting moving boxes a strong alternative.
On paper, buying standard cardboard boxes at a DIY store might look cheaper. But once you factor in the logistics of getting rid of them again, the price often exceeds heybox' all-inclusive solution. You'll find the full maths – from purchase to disposal – in buying vs. renting moving boxes.
| Resource | DIY (Buy & drive to recycling centre) | Heybox (Rent & collection) |
|---|---|---|
| Car rental (Share Now/Freetrailer) | 150 - 300 kr. (Pick-up + Drop-off) | 0 kr. |
| Time spent on disposal | 1.5 - 2 hours (Preparing, loading the car, driving) | 0 hours |
| Environmental footprint | 20 kg of single-use cardboard goes to recycling | Same boxes, many moves, less waste |
The physics of stubborn cardboard (and the better solution)
Why does it take so long to squash cheap moving boxes and strip off the tape for the courtyard cardboard bin? Thin cardboard has a low 'Edge Crush Test' (ECT) value, which means the boxes easily collapse under weight in the moving van. But when you try to tear or fold the taped ends apart by hand to make room in the bin, it takes both time and elbow grease.
Takeaway: Skip the clean-up afterwards entirely.
Skip the trip to the DIY store. Our solution is simple: sturdy, professional moving boxes in strong double-wall corrugated cardboard with a self-locking envelope base – no tape needed. They can be stacked all the way to the ceiling without any risk of structural collapse (see how to pack them properly).
Because you rent them, you avoid the cardboard waste entirely. We deliver, you pack, we collect. Same boxes, many moves, less waste. No surprises, no extra costs. Want to cut even more waste from your move? Read our tips for an eco-friendly move.
Ready for a move that just works? See how easy renting moving boxes can be.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Large amounts of cardboard can be dropped off free of charge at the City of Copenhagen's (ARC's) recycling centres, for example at Borgervænget, Bispeengen or in Sydhavnen. According to ARC, you just need to make sure the cardboard is free of polystyrene and plastic before it goes in the container.
Cardboard boxes must be flattened, emptied and kept dry before they go in the cardboard bin. The City of Copenhagen encourages you to fold the cardboard and ideally tear it up, so there's room for more in your courtyard's cardboard bin.
No, waste left next to the bins is generally not taken by the waste collectors. This counts as incorrect sorting or "dumped waste", and it can ultimately mean your housing association has to pay for an extra collection.
Yes, you can put cardboard boxes out as bulky waste, but they must be folded and tied tightly together with string. Loose piles of cardboard or boxes packed in black plastic bags will be rejected at the bulky waste collection according to the council's rules.
You avoid cardboard waste entirely by renting reusable, professional moving boxes that are delivered to and collected from your home. With heybox, we collect the empty boxes at your new address once you've finished unpacking, so you skip yet another trip to the recycling centre.