| Are paperboard milk and juice cartons recyclable? | | | | and re-processed. The purer the materials going into |
| This is a topic of much debate in my community, so I | | | | the recycling stream, the higher the aftermarket |
| decided to contact my local recycling facility to find | | | | value of these materials. That's why paper, glass, |
| the answer. To my surprise, the answer is not | | | | aluminum, non-laminated plastics and other metals |
| clear-cut. | | | | tend to fetch a higher price than laminated |
| Technically, milk and juice paperboard cartons can be | | | | paperboards and plastics that are made of multiple |
| recycled, but only in special facilities. Unfortunately | | | | resin families. Unfortunately, paperboard cartons have |
| few of these facilities exist in the US. Why is this? | | | | little aftermarket value, making them one of the least |
| Milk and juice cartons are made of about 85% virgin | | | | attractive materials to collect. |
| paper and 15% laminated plastic, which is the barrier | | | | According to Waste Management, which is the |
| between the paper and the liquid inside. A special | | | | largest recycler of municipal waste in North America, |
| recycling facility is needed to peel off the plastic | | | | milk and juice cartons are sorted in their facilities as |
| layers and extract the paper - a process that is more | | | | Mixed Paper. However, depending on who ultimately |
| energy intensive than regular paper recycling. | | | | buys the Mixed Paper bales, the cartons may or may |
| As a resident of Kentfield in Marin County, my local | | | | not actually get recycled. To improve the chances |
| recycler Marin Sanitary does not currently accept | | | | that milk cartons are recycled, recycling centers |
| paperboard milk and juice cartons for the following | | | | recommend rinsing your cartons thoroughly before |
| reasons: | | | | placing them in the recycling bin. |
| - Milk and juice cartons are plastic laminated | | | | So what are the alternatives? Sustainable packaging |
| paperboard and cannot be recycled alongside regular | | | | solutions such as those offered by Ecologic Brands, |
| paper. | | | | provide brands and manufacturers with a green |
| - The paper needs to be separated from the plastic | | | | packaging alternative for their liquid products. Ecologic |
| coat and this can only be done in a special recycling | | | | Brands' sustainable packaging includes an outer pulp |
| facility. In the United States, few of these special | | | | shell and an ultra-thin interior pouch with cap. |
| centers exist. | | | | The pulp shell is made of 100% recycled cardboard |
| - Separating the paper from the plastic coating is far | | | | and is not laminated, thus it can be re-recycled with |
| more energy intensive that regular paper recycling. | | | | other paper, and is compostable and biodegradable. |
| - Local recyclers must accumulate and stockpile | | | | The thin interior pouch uses up to 70% less plastic |
| enough tonnage to make it worthwhile for the special | | | | than jugs, is recyclable with #4 plastic, and leads to |
| facilities to pick-up the cartons. | | | | very low volume waste. Ecologic offers green |
| - Since few consumers adequately rinse the cartons | | | | packaging solutions in the milk and juice categories, as |
| before they discard them, milk cartons cause | | | | well as other categories such as wine, laundry and |
| contamination and significant odor while they | | | | household cleaning. For more information on Ecologic's |
| accumulate at recycling centers. | | | | sustainable packaging solutions, check out |
| Like Marin Sanitary, many municipalities contend with | | | | HDPE plastic jugs are another alternative to milk and |
| these same issues. | | | | juice cartons, but have other environmental |
| The two biggest factors in determining what local | | | | drawbacks. While the recycling rate for HDPE is |
| recycling centers collect at your curbside are | | | | higher than for cartons, and there is more demand |
| economics and convenience. Recyclers look for: (1) | | | | for recycled HDPE, rigid plastic jugs use twice as |
| secure and efficient aftermarkets for the materials | | | | much plastic as alternatives and consume large |
| they collect; and (2) high aftermarket prices for the | | | | amounts of natural and virgin materials to make -- |
| materials they collect. | | | | resulting in a high carbon footprint. Despite strong |
| Recycling centers act as "hubs" and sorting centers. | | | | recycling programs for HDPE, most HDPE jugs end up |
| They sell the materials they collect to converters, | | | | in landfills, creating high volume waste. |
| who convert them into materials that can be re-used | | | | |