Cardboard and chipboard biochar: not a waste of energy or time

Conversion of municipal waste to biochar has been well documented but slow pyrolytic conversion of urban and suburban cardboard and chipboard may be a new concept to many. We report progress linking characterization and performance of “stranded” cardboard and chipboard assets as potential tools in the fight against drought, nutrient loss or contamination. Though preliminary, our findings point to conversion of detritus as a low-cost contribution to soil conditioning and enhanced leaf carbon exchange.