Egg cartons are one of the most commonly used containers in the food industry. They are made from paperboard coated with a thin layer of wax and have a netted bottom to keep eggs from breaking, cracking, or spilling.
There are several types of egg cartons: standard size, medium-sized, and jumbo-sized. There are also cardboard egg trays that are just as recyclable as other cardboard products like cereal boxes. The only difference is that they are shaped differently for holding more eggs at once than what would fit into a rectangular shape. Read this article to know the answer for ‘Are Egg Cartons Recyclable’?
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What are egg cartons made of?
Egg cartons are made of paperboard and are rectangular. An egg carton is also called an egg tray or container. Eggs are laid on the bottom side of the single-sided opening. Depending on how many eggs you are buying, they are stacked up high to fit into as few boxes as possible. On top, there is another thin layer for people to put their hands inside so that the person can take out one layer at a time without having to be too careful not to break any eggs since it would be easier if you had two hands instead of just one hand.
What do they look like?
Egg cartons are usually small rectangular containers made of cardboard, plastic, or a combination of the two. Typically they are used to store eggs in grocery stores and at home. They are also commonly found as packaging for other food items like ice cream but are not limited to it.
The shape and size vary depending on what is being sold inside them: an egg carton might measure five by seven inches, while a container that holds cereal could be eight by twelve inches long. Some companies use flexible plastics called ‘flimsies’ instead of paperboard because they are cheaper than using paperboard, can carry more weight per square foot, protect from light better, don’t require extra wrapping if packaged with another product.
Are egg cartons recyclable?
Egg cartons are recyclable, but most recycling centers do not take them. A few known places for accepting egg and other food containers are the Natural Resources Defence Council, Planet Aid, and TerraCycle. Some communities have their programs to collect these items as well. The best way to recycle Egg Cartons is by putting them in your compost bin or outside with your yard waste (leaves, grass clippings). This will help make nutrient-rich soil for gardens!
The benefits of recycling egg cartons?
There are many benefits to recycling egg cartons. For one, it will help conserve the environment and reduce littering around your neighborhood. Recycling also helps create jobs for people, which are often paid on a volunteer basis, and save money by reducing costs associated with paper products such as toilet paper and napkins.
Egg cartons are most commonly made of cardboard or plastic (though some are made from recycled materials). So they are both easily recyclable! The easiest way to recycle them is just by getting in touch with your city’s sanitation department so you can have them picked up curbside… but if that isn’t an option, you could always find drop-off centers near your residence. Another great option is repurposing the cartons into something new, like a compost bin or an indoor planter.
You can also line your trash cans with them for easy cleanup! Egg cartons are lightweight and surprisingly sturdy when folded up, so they are perfect as liners in any of these applications. If you have some time on your hands, try this: empty all the eggshells from inside by cracking eggs into another container (like a bowl). Then place the entire emptied-out shell back in its original cardboard liner upside down so that it looks like an open tent shape… fold it closed before putting it away! This will keep smells contained while not taking up too much room.
Some comprehensive ideas to recycle egg cartons:
Compost Them
If your containers are made of food-grade plastic, you can compost them. They are considered to be green waste and are safe for the ground or potted plants.
If your containers are made with plastic that is not recyclable (like Styrofoam), it’s best to melt it down before recycling, so there are no sharp edges left behind. You could also use an electric blade if you’re using metal cartons like steel.
You might want to cut larger cartons into smaller sizes because of space constraints at home or in the office. To do this, lay out all pieces on a flat surface and slice through each piece right next.
Hold Paint
One of the best ways to reuse your old egg cartons is as paint containers. This tip works well for the thin-walled, hard-sided plastic ones and not so much with the cardboard or foam core type. If you are using them to hold food (like leftovers), then make sure they are thoroughly cleaned out first because any leftover residue will get on whatever it is holding when you are ready to store something else in there later.
If you decide to use one of your empty egg cases to hold paint this way, keep a few things in mind:
- Always clean out any residual yolk before painting since that can contaminate what’s inside.
- Be careful when opening up an emptied egg case after drying – sometimes hot steam might escape.
Start Seedlings
You can bury the egg carton in soil and use it as a seedling starter.
- Use one of those plastic egg containers to start your plants off with an easy way to water them without having to worry about over or under-watering them.
- Find out how many seeds are left by simply counting the number of tiny holes.
- Fill each hole up with dirt, sprinkle some seeds on top and cover with more dirt so that all but two are covered.
- Seeds will need light from above, so poke two holes in opposite ends for drainage and put something like toilet paper tubes into these holes (you can also cut small slits).
Offer Them to a Local Farmer
Offering to the local farmers is a great idea, especially if you are not the only one in your area doing this. They are always looking for ways to eliminate waste, and using egg cartons rarely compromises their work or equipment. They may even have an opportunity to try out new ideas because these are typically more vulnerable than other types of cardboard products.
You can also offer Them at Your Local Grocery Store. Your local grocery store wants people like you coming through their doors regularly, so offering them up as recycling options will be seen positively by staff members and customers alike. It’s also worth considering that there are probably strict rules about what can go into the bins outside each entrance.
Use Them for Packaging
One of the best ways to recycle egg cartons is to use them as packaging for other items. For example, you can put your child’s artwork in the space of an egg carton and then seal it with tape so that it does not get damaged or ruined during storage. You could also cut up the box into squares and then use those pieces are a base for cupcakes or small cakes at your next party.
Using for storage
If you are using egg cartons for storage purposes, be sure to place them, so they are all standing upright and wipe down the inside with a damp cloth each time one is emptied. This will keep germs from accumulating in the container, which can be passed on when new eggs are stored. If your home is not too cold or temperature-controlled, store raw eggs outside their original packaging in an open-air fruit fly trap.
Egg cartons can be used for transportation.
Egg cartons are containers made of cardboard that are used to store eggs. They are typically tall and rectangular, with the base larger than the top, tapered on one end. There are usually three compartments inside for holding eggs, each separated by a divider wall. The front panel has two perpendicular slits cut out at either end; through these slits, eggshells can be broken into an open compartment to easily slide down below where they will not break while being carried or shipped.
They are famous for transporting large quantities of raw or cooked shell eggs from farms to restaurants and grocery stores because their compact size requires less space during storage. Many supermarkets now offer them as part of a bundled sale.
Donate to a local school
Instead of tossing out your egg cartons, donate them to a local school. Schools are always in need of supplies, and these are perfect because they are already clean! Contact the schools you want to donate them to beforehand or drop them off at their front desk.
This idea is especially great if you are throwing eggs away with cracked shells. It will make recycling easier on the students since all you have to do is cut each little section open and discard any broken eggs inside before donating!
You can also keep an eye out for other people who might be leaving this type of reusable item around town when disposing of trash (especially during fairs) so that you can pick up what’s left behind by others, saving yourself time.
Recycling Through Your Local Curbside Pickup
- If you cannot recycle your egg cartons through the program discussed in this blog post, you can still make a difference by recycling them through your local curbside pickup. For example, if you are using plastic bags for groceries and have an extra bag on hand that is clean and dry – use it as an old-fashioned paper grocery bag instead of throwing away food!
- An alternative option would be to request nonwoven biodegradable fabric (e.g., BioBag) from grocery stores where such things are available or find retailers who discount when buying produce in bulk quantities with cloth bags.
- Additionally, many communities now accept used newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, and other recycling materials, including compostable food waste such as eggshells, orange rinds, and coffee grounds.
- For those on the go or for a quick solution to provide plastic bags at home (e.g., for sandwich wraps), you can purchase nylon reusable produce bags from websites like EcoBags.com in various shapes, sizes, and colors are available that are washable and durable enough to reuse over time without needing much care).
Final Thoughts
Egg cartons are a great way to store eggs and keep them fresh. They stack easily, making it easy for you to maximize your fridge space while also keeping the egg whites from drying out. The best part? Recycling your old egg cartons is as simple as sorting them into recycling bins! Follow these ways of recycling egg cartons below and get started today so that this earth-friendly resource can be reused in new products without ever going to waste.
