Carton recycling (Tetra Pak)
From the 1 April residents will be able to recycle liquid cartons (such as those made by Tetra Pak) from home.
Residents should rinse their liquid cartons, leave the cap on and place them in their purple lidded recycling bin alongside their bottles and cans.
This change is part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling plan, helping make recycling easier and more consistent across England.
Carton recycling FAQ’s
What new materials can I now recycle?
You can now recycle the following items as part of your household recycling collection:
Rinsed liquid cartons e.g. liquid-based food and beverage cartons such as those used for juice, plant-based drinks, milk, soup and sauce cartons.
Which recycling bin should I put my liquid cartons in?
Liquid cartons should go in with your purple lidded recycling bin alongside your bottles, pots, tubs, trays and jars.
How do I recycle liquid cartons?
- Rinse your liquid cartons to remove leftover liquid
- Leave the cap on – it can be recycled
- Place in your recycling container
Why should I recycle my liquid cartons?
Liquid cartons are made from cardboard with thin layers of plastic or foil and recycling them:
- Saves trees, water and energy
- Reduces disposal costs and is better for the environment
- Means valuable materials don’t go to waste
- Help make cardboard boxes, construction boards and even furniture
What happens to the liquid cartons I recycle?
These materials are sent to recycling reprocessing facilities where they are sorted, cleaned and transformed into new products such as car parts, construction materials, new packaging materials, cardboard, new foil and aerosols or even new cartons.
Recycling these items saves energy, conserves natural resources and helps keep valuable materials out of energy from waste facilities.
Where are the recycled liquid cartons sent to?
These materials are processed in Sonoco, Halifax.
Which aspects of the liquid cartons are recyclable?
The liquid cartons vary dependent on the contents, but they are made of a combination of metal foil, fibre and plastic.
Why are these changes happening?
These changes are part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling requirements. This aims to make recycling collections across England more consistent, so everyone can recycle the same core materials, reducing confusion and improving recycling rates.
Why should I recycle?
Recycling keeps valuable materials in use instead of wasting them. When recyclable items like food and drink cartons go in the rubbish bin, they’re burned and while some energy is recovered, the materials are lost for good - rather than being turned into something new. Recycling helps save energy and reduces waste. Just one extra recycled item per household each week could power 500,000 UK homes for a year, according to Simpler Recycling.
Why is it important to clean items before recycling?
Food and drink leftovers can ruin other recycling, making it harder to sort and lowering the quality. A quick rinse helps ensure more materials can be recycled successfully.
Does recycling really make a difference?
Yes! Recycling is worthwhile and helps reduce pollution, save energy and conserve natural resources. It also supports jobs in the UK’s recycling, processing and manufacturing industries. Most people already recycle, and every bit helps.
How can I improve my recycling?
You can improve your recycling by checking what can be accepted in your household collections and by only putting in those items that the council specifically asks for. For items not collected at kerbside check the Recycle Now Recycling locator.
Where can I find more information about what I can recycle?
To find out more about what you can recycle visit here, where you can search to see your options.
Why should I bother recycling if some people don’t?
Most people in Kent already recycle. By doing your part, sorting and recycling your waste, you’re making a big difference. It helps reduce waste, increase recycling, turn old materials into new products and helps to provide better value public services for Kent residents.