Clear the boxes after a move, delivery or busy week. Book empty boxes individually, bundles of 10 flattened boxes, or securely bound cardboard bales with loading-dock access.
The new furniture is in place. The deliveries are opened. Choose the cardboard you have and get the space back, without turning a stack of boxes into a guessing game.
Pick the right unit.
A loose box, a ten-box bundle and a compacted bale have separate prices.
Only book what is there.
Add bundles, leftover boxes and other items to one order.
Get confirmation it is cleared.
Follow pickup updates and photos after collection.
Boxes, bundles and bales are three different things.
A bundle is ten flattened boxes. A bale is mechanically compacted cardboard, securely strapped together and staged at an accessible loading dock.
Loose empty boxes.
Count each empty box as one item. Remove contents, plastic packing and foam. This choice is for the cardboard box itself.
Bundles of 10.
Flatten ten empty boxes and tie them into one bundle. Twenty-three boxes? Choose two ten-box bundles and three loose boxes. Count each box once.
Compacted bales.
Choose small for 50–150 lb, medium for 151–300 lb or large for 301–500 lb. Every bale must be securely bound and accessible from a loading dock. Unknown weight, no dock or over 500 lb? Ask our team first.
Cardboard pickup prices in Upper Arlington
First item / additional item
Empty cardboard box$59 / $5
10 flattened cardboard boxes$79 / $20
Small cardboard bale$99 / $30
Medium cardboard bale$129 / $60
Large cardboard bale$175 / $100
The highest first-item price applies once. Every remaining item uses its additional-item price. Loading, transportation and disposal are included. Applicable sales tax is shown before payment.
Remove the contents and packing material. Set aside filled household boxes and add them as separate items if they are also going.
2
Count boxes or confirm bale weight.
Tie each ten-box bundle together. For compacted bales, use the actual weight to choose the correct option.
3
Prepare the right access.
Loose boxes and bundles need an accessible outdoor spot. Bales need a loading dock; keep them securely bound and tell us about dock access before pickup.
You’re in the loop. Until it’s gone.
Confirmation when you book. A heads-up before arrival. Photos when it’s done.
Cardboard and paper go in the blue recycling cart, flattened and clean, and they are collected on the same weekly run as the trash.
City cost & eligibility
No charge. Included in the annual trash and recycling fee, which covers the weekly recycling collection for every household including apartments and condominiums.
When & how
On the household collection day for the zone, with the cart at the curb between 6 p.m. the night before and 7 a.m.
Get it ready
Break down and flatten every cardboard box and keep the paper clean and dry. A pizza box is accepted once the food debris is removed, a paper coffee cup is accepted with the plastic lid off, and shredded paper is accepted only in a clear plastic bag, which the city calls the single exception to its no plastic bag rule. Remove Styrofoam from boxes before they go in the cart.
Cardboard and paper go in the blue cart flattened and clean, with Styrofoam removed from the boxes first, and everything stays loose rather than bagged. Shredded paper is the one exception and may go in a clear plastic bag, while plastic bags are refused for everything else.
Use a permitted, accessible outdoor spot. Arrange the move out of your home, keep shared access clear and follow your confirmation’s readiness instructions. Check with your building about access or staging limits before booking.
Selected customer reviews. Counts checked September 2026.
Before you book
A few things worth knowing.
Cardboard pickup, from choosing your item to pickup day in Upper Arlington.
How much does cardboard pickup cost?+
One empty box is $59 first and $5 additional. A bundle of 10 flattened boxes is $79 first and $20 additional. Small, medium and large compacted bales have separate weight-based choices shown above.
What are the cardboard bale weight limits?+
Small is 50–150 lb, medium is 151–300 lb and large is 301–500 lb. Each bale must stay securely bound and be ready at an accessible loading dock. Contact our team about unknown weights, larger bales or a location without dock access.
Can the boxes still have things inside?+
Empty-cardboard pricing covers the cardboard itself. Use Filled household box for boxed household contents. Remove plastic, foam and other packing materials from empty boxes before collection.
Can I put cardboard in my regular recycling instead?+
Check your local provider’s cardboard rules, including flattening, container limits and collection days. EPA recommends keeping paper products clean and dry. Dropcurb provides a separately booked pickup; a specific recycling facility or recycling outcome is not guaranteed by this booking.
Can I arrange same-day pickup?+
Book by 2pm in the pickup address’s local time for same-day pickup. Checkout shows the available dates for your address. Your booking is for a pickup day, rather than an exact arrival window. We send updates and photos after collection.
Where should I put my items?+
Use an accessible outdoor spot you are allowed to use, and follow the instructions in your confirmation. Keep sidewalks, entrances and vehicle access clear. You arrange any indoor carrying. For a loading dock or a short building access window, confirm the setup with our team before booking.
How is Upper Arlington cardboard prepared?+
Break the boxes down and flatten them so they fit the blue cart with the lid closed, and remove any Styrofoam packing first. A pizza box is fine once the food is out and a coffee cup is fine without its plastic lid, and shredded paper is the one item that may go in a clear plastic bag.Official guidance
What will Upper Arlington not take at the curb?+
Construction debris such as concrete, sinks, toilets, cabinets and doors, electronic waste, hazardous waste including oil based paint, batteries and pool chemicals, uncontained move-out piles, tires, scrap metal, lawn mowers and car batteries. Electronics go to the city drop off on Roberts Road, hazardous waste goes through the county programme, and the rest needs a route outside the city collection.Official guidance
One less thing on your list
Make room for the rest of your day.
Choose the right items and quantities, review your exact total and book your pickup. We keep you updated and send photos afterward.
