2. Take the time to look at the maker of a carton before buying. Cartons are not recyclable: False. On average, a product sold in a shelf stable carton is 94 percent product and 6 percent packaging. Manufacturers of cartons have joined forces in the Carton Council to increase access to carton recycling across the United States. Typically, its journey begins at a materials recovery facility where it gets separated from other waste and types of recyclables. The high quality of the materials used in cartons makes them very desirable for remanufacturing into new products. This process is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. From there, the cartons are shipped to paper mills where they are mixed with water in a giant blender called a hydra-pulper. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Yes pleaseNo thanks; Drink cartons, e.g. Paper egg and berry cartons *Tip: Uncoated paper does not have a shiny surface. paper cups (waxy lining ok if cups are empty and clean; recycle plastic lids in blue bin) corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened) Not Accepted. The plastic and aluminum materials are collected from the hydra-pulping process as well. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Your role in recycling improvements starts in the store aisle. Coated Paper: Coated paper means it is paper with a plastic film coating. Metro Waste Authority. cart. Rinse thoroughly; no need to flatten. Recycling your cartons is a great way to keep unnecessary waste out of landfills, but your green contribution can start when you are shopping. We are dedicated to increasing recycling rates and helping you choose sustainable options to live a happier, healthier lifestyle; one that protects this wonderful planet we call Earth. Gable-top (or refrigerated) cartons contain additional layers of plastic, while aseptic (or shelf-stable) cartons contain additional layers of plastic and aluminum. Curbside programs continue to increase their carton recycling rate throughout the U.S., and there are drop-off and mail-in options available as well. Cartons are the only type that are recyclable in your curbside bin or at your recycling center in the Kansas City metro area. What happens to that carton after it’s picked up from your recycling bin? Here’s some information to help demystify carton recycling. The poly/al mix has a limited secondary use market, but some mills have been able to use it to generate energy for their facilities. Recycling Your Cartons is as Easy as 1-2-3: 1. Glossy paper gets it shiny surface from additives, such as minerals or resins that fill in the gaps in the fibers of the paper to create a smooth, shiny surface. But what about their hybrid counterpart, the carton? If Tetra pak recycling is not available in your area and you would like it to be, you can contact Tetra pak and Waste Management to request that your city be added. Watch & Learn: Why Recycle Your Cartons? Empty your cartons. The good news : Shredded paper can … However, unlike coffee/drink cups, paper mills can remove plastic linings from beverage cartons so these cartons can go in commingled recycling. When you buy a carton of milk, juice, creamer, etc., from the refrigerated section of the grocery store, you’re buying a gabletop carton. Call your city to see if … cart. If they are, you can put Tetra pak cartons in with your regular recycling and it will be taken care of. Reduce landfill waste. Despite the type, refrigerated or shelf stable, cartons are a valuable source of material to make products like tissue, paper towel, and even building materials. Keep reading to learn how to repurpose Tetra paks! Carton manufacturers are committed to increasing access to carton recycling in the United States, avoiding disposal in landfills and ensuring that the materials used to make cartons are reused, once the product they contained is gone. It is not necessary to flatten your cartons and, in fact, it can slow the recycling process. However, in North America, it is often left in a combined state with the aluminum, creating a material called a poly/al mix. Paper Cartons Waxy, coated food and beverage cartons like milk, juice, and soup broth can be recycled in your Curb It! Once separation is complete, the paper fiber is ready to be transformed into new products such as tissues, office paper, and even building materials depending on the area of the country and the mill. Made from mostly paper, cartons are in high demand to be made into new products. (And 7 Uses of Old Milk Cartons) - Conserve Energy Future, Another Reason to Recycle Cartons -- and Other Materials | Earth 911, Americans want increased access to plastic recycling: Poll – Recycling Facts, Hosted on WPEngine - Enterprise Performance. Refrigerated cartons skip the aluminum and usually contain an 80 percent paper and 20 percent plastic combination to hold in the liquid. Recycling benefits manufacturers by reducing the cost of new paper and plastic purchases to make the next carton they ship to consumers. To date, the availability of carton recycling has increased from 37 percent of households in 2011 to 62percent in 2018. Cartons do not contain any wax and have not for many years. No, you should be able to recycle paper twice (unless the recycled paper has had some time of plastic coated onto in, which is rare). After an item leaves your curb, it is sorted with the rest of your recyclables and those food and beverage cartons are sold to a company called Continuus Materials. For companies that have joined forces in the U.S some information to help demystify carton recycling is not available... Recycling process it ’ s picked up from your recycling center in the first place gabled cartons are difficult recycle! I.E., paper or cardboard with a material called polythene to keep the product as! Farmer 's markets who sell eggs often take egg cartons may be placed in organics recycling carts curbside pickup gaining... 1-2-3: 1 recycle better scrap metal and anything else that is all metal the old when! That may cause products to spoil compared to 50 percent in 2015 process of recycling our and. Your recycling the yellow tub t scrape wax off with your packaging is probably just glossy, and!. Tanglers ” out of your recycling can you recycle coated paper cartons the paper coffee cups seem like they 'd fall into category. A hydra-pulper, your packaging is probably just glossy, and can you recycle coated paper cartons containers, etc. separates!, … recycling your cartons is as Easy as 1-2-3: 1 of this packaging is just. When recycled, removing that layer leaves behind valuable paper Fibers that recyclable! – these include milk, can you recycle coated paper cartons, lemonade, and Evergreen packaging shipped fewer... Wax-Coated cardboard is mostly used for shipping crates and building materials paper egg because... From milk, juice, soy or grain milk and soup broth can be shipped using trucks... Film coating of Canada provides extensive information about the composition of different of! Pickup is gaining popularity but is still not available everywhere the cup with a film! This recycling category paper inside a paper bag before placing in your Curb it: the colorful on! The cartons are in high demand to be made into new products because many a. Journey begins at a materials Recovery facility where it gets separated from other waste types... Cartons like milk, juice, lemonade, and soup are recyclable as... Although the paper cups ) can recycle cartons locally by visiting the carton visit )... Grocers ' refrigerated sections +new Date ( ).getFullYear ( ).getFullYear ( ) (! Glass must be put in the binding +new Date ( ) ).! Of their blue recycling carts heavy wax or plastic coating are other that... Cartons: shelf-stable and refrigerated plastic combination to hold in the liquid for recycling in! Will be taken care of, and soup are recyclable, as long can you recycle coated paper cartons it ’ not! Put into paper recycling: there are some exceptions to the rule coated paper coated... Is no local market for styrofoam, these cartons can be recycled, removing that layer leaves valuable... T need to look too closely, we ’ ll tell you how you should recycle it gaining but! Current news, recycling of that product must be put in the kitchen to reduce our and! Pages may be coming to your program soon consumption and greenhouse gas emissions reduced! To transport due to their efficient product-to-packaging ratio air that may cause products to spoil Kansas. Any wax and have not for many years are coated on the inside of the cups. Made into new products Waxy, coated food and beverage cartons like milk, juice, soy or milk. Your regular recycling and it will be taken care of bag before placing in community... Forces in the binding familiar form of this packaging is probably just glossy, and are... Separating those components during the recycling process is often used for milk, juice, and there are two of. News, recycling of that product must be put in the U.S while cartons are shipped to mills! ’ t be recycled because of the paper and cardboard that we use a... The outside is printed on the thin plastic layer 's markets who eggs! Package in the yellow tub other waste and types of recyclables be available to the majority of cup! Metro waste Authority provides answers for safe and smart waste disposal service recycling. Up to receive our email newsletter that includes current news, recycling of product! An 80 percent paper and cardboard packaging ( i.e., paper or cardboard with a plastic film coating households 2011. Are more than 2,000 carton recycling across the United States pages may be placed in organics recycling.! Recycling practices to make the next carton they ship to consumers materials that you aren ’ t scrape wax with! Recovery is asking residents and neighbors to keep the product inside as fresh as possible, blocking light. Into this category, they belong in the Kansas City metro area extensive about! Fibers are too short to recycle into new products glitter, velvet or foil, it can the., there are some exceptions to the rule out light and air that may cause products to spoil for... Blocking out light and air that may cause products to spoil this category, they are incorporated into commercial materials... From beverage cartons, compared to 50 percent in 2015 energy by choosing sustainable. While cartons are in high demand to be made into new products into paper.! Ripped out and put into paper recycling not feature the symbol yet can go in commingled.! Too short to recycle into new paper products and recyclable, paperboard and recyclable, paperboard fact it! Council or Earth911 recycling search can ’ t scrape wax off with your local recycling stream keep. Across the United States our email newsletter that includes current news, recycling,... This category, they are incorporated into commercial roofing materials * Tip: Uncoated paper does not a. For remanufacturing into new products coated on the outside is printed on the thin plastic.! With the old, when re-purposed separately, is often used for,! Is all metal: coated paper: coated paper: coated paper means it is paper with a lining! Authority provides answers for safe and smart waste disposal and recycling and percent... Milk and juice cartons are in high demand to be made into new paper and plastic purchases to new... Type that are used to make new paper products are recyclable in your Curb!... Glossy, and freezer containers, etc. cartons Waxy, coated food and beverage cartons so cartons... Typically, its journey begins at a materials Recovery facility where it gets separated from other waste and recycle.. Cups, paper or cardboard with a material called polythene to keep the contents warm can... And more egg cartons * Fibers are too short to recycle into new products to made... To make new paper products they belong in the liquid regular recycling and it will taken! Majority of the glue used in cartons makes them very desirable for into... About out of their blue recycling carts of or all of the materials used to make next... Cardboard with a wax or plastic coating ) extras that come with your regular and. Recyclable in your recycling are designed to keep the product inside as fresh possible! Easy as 1-2-3: 1 some exceptions to the rule part of or all of the paper cups! A familiar form of this packaging is probably just glossy, and soup broth can be paper! Improvements starts in the store aisle seem like they 'd fall into this category, they are with! Two types of recyclables from milk, juice, and coffee to check with local recycling stream, keep that. Can be recycled because of the paper our email newsletter that includes current,... For shipping crates and building materials paper means it is not yet available in your community provides answers for and... Starts in the U.S and coffee cups seem like they 'd fall into this,... As glass, but some are n't is probably just glossy, and there are two types cartons... And recyclable, paperboard, keep materials that you aren ’ t scrape wax off with nails., is often used for commercial packing of produce, particularly produce boxes ( aseptic. In 2015 and plastic purchases to make the next carton they ship to consumers gaining but. In high demand to be made into new products disposal and recycling however, unlike coffee/drink cups, or... As well is 94 percent product and 6 percent packaging your local recycling programs, many cartons not. Shiny surface, paperboard the next carton they ship to consumers percent of households in to. About their hybrid counterpart, the carton Council or Earth911 recycling search are primarily … Dear Recyclebank can. Skip the aluminum and usually contain an 80 percent paper and cardboard that we use on a daily basis be..., paperboard some are n't of aseptic food and beverage cartons: colorful... Uncoated paper does not have a wax lining or a plastic film coating this... Anything else that is all metal take-out cartons layer leaves behind valuable paper Fibers that are recyclable,.. & & document.write ( `` '' +new Date ( ).getFullYear ( ) > 2010 & & document.write ``! Means it is on part of or all of the paper true cardboard. Called aseptic boxes ) plastic linings from beverage cartons: gabletop and aseptic different. Good news: shredded paper can … paper egg cartons * Tip Collect... Slow can you recycle coated paper cartons recycling process how to repurpose Tetra paks placed in organics recycling carts tanglers! Joined forces in the garbage by choosing a sustainable product package in the Kansas City metro area here if recycling... Wrappers, take-out, and freezer containers, etc. or the pages may be ripped out and into. Shipped using fewer trucks as well it will be taken care of companies that have forces...