Most of us recycle paper and plastic – but what about cartons? According to the Carton Council of North America, 50% of U.S. households can now recycle cartons throughout curbside and other recycling programs. Carton recycling access has grown a remarkable 177% over the last five years. Since cartons are made mostly of paper, they are a renewable resource and be reused forever and remanufactured into new products. Cartons are also lightweight and transportation efficient, with just 94% product and only 6% package.
There are two types of cartons – and both types are recyclable
The shelf-stable (aka asceptic) cartons are made of mostly paper, but also some plastic and a thin layer of aluminum are added to help the food inside stay fresh for a longer period of time. The shelf-stable cartons are found on store shelves for products like broth, wine, and juice. The refrigerated (aka gable top) cartons are made of mostly paper, but some plastic too. They are found in the chilled parts of the store for products like milk, cream, and egg substitutes.
Carton Recycling provides an additional revenue stream
Does your recycling facility recycle cartons? Any Harmony Enterprises Inc. baler can be used to bale cartons, depending on the quantity of the material you are baling. If there are any liquids remaining, and you are baling a small amount of cartons, the BCB2003 ExtractPack would also work well. Paper is in demand by paper mills and other companies that make recycled paper products. Even though there are layers of aluminum and plastic in with the paper, paper mills have figured out how to harvest the paper, which is extremely valuable and useful to make new products. Adding cartons to a recycling program increases waste diversion, reducing the need for disposal, and offers a potential revenue stream from the sale of cartons.
Does your community recycle cartons yet? Is your recycling facility using a Harmony Enterprises baler to bale cartons? We would love to hear from you!
