More and more people are taking part in recycling but many people still have questions about what they can recycle. One of the most common questions is, “Are milk cartons recyclable?” The short answer is, “Yes!” Even more exciting? All food and beverage cartons are recyclable! That means that even those little juice cartons (the ones you use when you’re on the go) can be recycled. Pretty cool, huh? I am going to share even more details with you on which cartons can be recycled, how, where, and the products they can be recycled into. I hope that this information gets shared around because it is so important that we all take part in recycling and helping preserve our natural resources.
This post was sponsored by the Carton Council as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Are Milk Cartons Recyclable? Can Other Food And Beverage Cartons Be Recycled?
The short answer to both the questions is, “Yes, you can recycle milk cartons, food cartons, juice cartons, and water cartons.” Let me fill you on the details. Food and beverage cartons remain a highly under recycled category because many people don’t know if they fall into the plastic, aluminum, or paper categories therefore if they can be recycled.
Milk Cartons and other refrigerated cartons are made of paper and plastic and there are recycling methods that separate them and reuse them. Shelf stable cartons that can hold things like vegetable purees, soups, broths, milk, juice, and water are made mostly from paper with a thin layer of plastic and aluminum. There are recycling process that separate and reuse the contents of these cartons as well.
You can watch a quick video about how recycled cartons become new products here:
As you saw in the video, cartons can be pressed into reusable sheets of paper pulp that go on to make paper towels, tissues, and other recycled paper products.
The cartons can also be recycled into boards used for construction using no chemicals or water! These recycled building materials are growing in popularity.
Where To Recycle Cartons
According to The Carton Council of North America , 62 percent of households in the U.S. can now recycle food and beverage cartons through curbside and drop-off programs. There has been an exciting growth in carton recycling and I am sure that will only continue as more folks learn that food and milk cartons are recyclable.
To check if carton recycling is available in your area, you can use the zip code locator at recyclecartons.com, or check with your local recycling program.
How To Recycle Cartons
1. Remove any lids or straws
2. Empty all cartons (only empty cartons can be recycled)
3. Rinse cartons (helps ensure they are empty and they don’t cause smells in your recycling bin)
4. Drop them in your kitchen recycling bin every time!
Why Choose Cartons In The First Place? Cartons Are An Eco-Friendly Choice
Lots of foods and beverages come in cartons. They are used to package items like soup, milk, juice, wine, tomatoes, and beans. Cartons use the least amount of materials possible, to package and protect products. This helps preserve our Earth’s precious resources.
Another eco-friendly feature is that cartons are lightweight and compact leading to a low carbon footprint for shipping.
If you look in your pantry right now, I bet you come out with an assortment of cartons. Recycling cartons is a great way to reduce unnecessary waste in landfills. The Carton Council is committed to building a sustainable infrastructure for carton recycling nationwide with the goal of preventing cartons from ending up in landfills. Now, that is a mission I can get behind.
If you were wondering, “Are milk cartons recyclable?”, I hope I not only answered that for you but also inspired you to recycle all your cartons! Help me spread the word! Will you add cartons to your recycling routine around your house and neighborhood?
I knew about milk cartons, but your post made me wonder – are juice boxes recyclable as well? Do you know?
Yes, juice cartons can be recycled. You can use the zip code locator at recyclecartons.com to see if your recycling facility accepts them.