Milk cartons are an essential component of modern-day breakfast. They are also recyclable, but are they? This blog post will answer the question how to recycle milk cartons properly.
Table of Contents
What is a milk carton made of?
A milk carton is a container used to contain liquids such as milk. It can also be used to store other liquids such as orange juice or cream. For a liquid to hold in the carton, it must have a thin membrane that will allow gases to pass through but prevent the liquid from leaking out. The thin layer of plastic that covers the inside of a milk carton is called polyethylene, and it allows oxygen to pass through. Making this plastic layer begins with ethylene which is a flammable gas that comes from natural gas. Ethylene reacts with oxygen and forms ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide. This reaction produces heat, so it must be cooled in a series of cooling chambers. The resulting product is a white flake mixed with ethylene-vinyl acetate and formed into a thin film.
Types of Milk Cartons:
Glass Jug Milk Carton
The glass jug milk carton is the classic image of a milk container. It was first introduced in the mid to late 19th century and used until it was phased out by paperboard cartons, plastic bottles, and bags. Many dairy companies have refurbished the traditional glass jug design for use with milk. However, the US dairy industry has abandoned the glass jug design of paperboard cartons and plastic bottles.
Paperboard Milk Carton
The paperboard milk carton is a box-shaped container made from sturdy paper lined with waxed or polymer film to make it impervious to liquids like milk. There are a few different types of paperboard milk cartons, including:
- Pulp-coated paperboard: contains pulp on both sides for extra strength and is treated with wax or resin lining
- Cardboard coated with plastic: the plastic coating replaces the resin lining
- Polyethylene-coated paperboard: a thin plastic coating that prevents moisture from reaching the paperboard
The paperboard milk carton is often labeled with a printed layer of aluminum foil or paper.
Plastic Milk Carton
The modern plastic milk cartons are made from materials like polyethylene which are thin, strong, and flexible. This material is used to produce a thin, strong, and flexible plastic container airtight and impermeable to moisture. Some dairy companies have produced white polyethylene jugs with a printed label of foil or paper. Since the late 20th century, there has been an increase in plastics as containers for milk as more people have started drinking from bottles instead of cartons. Some carton designs have been discontinued by dairy companies in favor of plastic milk bottles.
Compostable Milk Carton
In recent years, the dairy industry has introduced compostable milk cartons to meet consumer demand for sustainable material choices. These cartons can be made from polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic made from renewable resources like corn starch. After being consumed, this type of packaging can be recycled with other PLA products at plants to produce feedstock for bio-based plastics.
Milk Cartons and Recycling
We all know that recycling is important. It saves resources, energy, and landfill space. But do we understand the impact of recycling? Let’s start with milk cartons.
A child drinking a glass of milk might think it comes from the grocery store in a plastic jug. But did you know that over 90% of milk containers used in the United States are recycled and made into new bottles? That’s a pretty big impact for such a common item.
Glass milk jugs make up about 20% of all glass containers recycled in this country, while plastic jugs make up 40%. The rest is made from other recycled materials like aluminum cans and newspaper, which we’ll get back to in a second.
In addition to being recycled into new milk containers, many other products are made from recycled milk jugs. Unbroken ones become trash bags, and shredded pieces become outdoor carpeting, park benches, and picnic tables. Even insulation for homes can be made from recycled plastic bottles!
Now let’s look at recycling aluminum cans.
Aluminum cans make up around 80% of all aluminum recycled in the United States. That not only saves energy but it stops trash from ending up in landfills, which is where over 50% of aluminum would end up (instead of being recycled) if it weren’t collected for reuse. And that’s even better than recycling because no energy is needed to turn the aluminum into a new can.
Recycling newspapers save trees because each ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees. It also conserves water and reduces air pollution by cutting down on energy when making pulp from wood. That’s why recycling paper is something everyone can do, whether at home or in their community.
Now our last example is recycling plastic bottles.
Bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (or PET for short) are the most common type of plastic used in drinks and food containers. These can be recycled into items like fleece jackets, carpet fiber, and even decking material! So if you’re wondering what to do with all those plastic water bottles, you can drink from them and then recycle them to help protect the planet.
Why You Should Recycle Milk Cartons
You probably know that recycling paper, plastic bottles, and cans can be rewarding in many ways. But you may not realize how much it affects the environment by reducing waste and conserving natural resources. It also reduces pollution and greenhouse gases*, making air cleaner to breathe. Recycling just one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV set for three hours.
Recycling milk cartons and other rigid plastics are one of the most effective ways to reduce environmental pollution and preserve our natural resources. More than 13 million tons of these containers were recycled in [[United States]] during 2014, up from 11 million in [[2000]]. That’s more than a 20% increase! What would the environment look like if every American recycled just one milk carton per day?
A 20-year study showed that 25% of the average US household’s waste was packaging, much of it made from trees. Recycling paper and plastic containers not only conserves natural resources but also saves landfill space. By recycling these materials, you save once-virgin wood and reduce the need for digging up trees to produce new containers.
Drawbacks associated with recycling milk cartons: Handicapped access is somewhat limited due to the weight of cases, they must be kept dry, so leakage is a problem if cardboard absorbs moisture, may have some ink or glue – but most recyclers can handle this, maybe mixed in with other recyclables (i.e., beer cartons, etc.)
How to Recycle Milk Cartons
Milk cartons are made of paper or plastic. When recycled, they can be turned into new paper products like cereal boxes and egg cartons. This means fewer trees need to be cut down for these items. Milk cartons take about 60 days to decompose after being thrown away, but if recycled, it could take up to three months for them to break down. Milk cartons are made up of three types of material: waxed cardboard, paperboard, polyethylene plastic.
If the milk comes in a cardboard container (waxed or unwaxed), it can be recycled with corrugated cardboard like boxes, etc. If the milk comes in a plastic jug, it can’t be recycled in a cardboard-only recycling bin. It can also be put into a plastic recycling bin with other rigid plastics, such as yogurt containers and margarine tubs.
Milk cartons can usually be recycled at schools but not in your regular household recycling bins. This is because milk cartons often have liners inside them that hold the milk. These liners are not recyclable. Because of this, milk cartons can’t be recycled with other items in a household recycling bin; otherwise, the whole lot would need to be carefully checked for liners.
This is where a school or workplace drop-off point comes in handy. Schools typically have special education programs that teach children how to recycle. These children can then teach their parents at home how to recycle the milk containers properly.
Environmental Pros and Cons of Milk Cartons
The milk carton is an effective container for transporting and storing milk (or other liquid such as juice). It offers many benefits, such as it’s lightweight, easy to access and sealing tightly. However, when considering how environmentally friendly the milk carton is, some cons need to be considered.
The Pros of Milk Cartons
One pro for milk cartons is that they are lightweight. This means it takes less energy to transport them. Also, screw-top lids make the container very easy to open and close, minimizing spills when in transit or at home. Another plus for this mass-produced product is that it’s fairly inexpensive.
The Cons of Milk Cartons
One con for milk cartons is that the plastic lining inside the container may leach into the liquid if left in a hot place, such as a car trunk in the summertime. This can be harmful to consumers. Also, although the paperboard that makes up most of the carton is recyclable, the plastic liner of many cartons isn’t. Another con for milk cartons is that the paperboard used in some makes is bleached with chlorine dioxide or sulfites, which are harmful to the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is milk carton paper recyclable?
A: Milk cartons are recyclable; however, it is not recommended because the fibers in milk carton paper are shorter than typical paper fibers, which affects the machine’s ability to make uniform products.
Q: What can I do with empty milk cartons?
A: You can save empty milk cartons and fill them with school supplies. Stick a piece of masking tape on each side and write the student’s name and room number on each box to be easier for teachers to identify where they go in the classroom.
Q: How much does one milk carton weigh?
A: One milk carton weighs approximately 0.03 kilograms (0.07 lbs.). It is light enough to carry around but is also sturdy to hold many items such as pencils, crayons, markers, erasers, and more!
Conclusion
Conclusion paragraph: Milk cartons are recyclable but not in your curbside recycling bin. To recycle milk cartons, you’ll need to visit a local grocery store or dairy packaging facility with the carton and show them you’re ID. Be sure to wash out any residual milk that may be leftover before recycling! It’s easy- follow these steps to know about Recycle Milk Cartons: Can They Be Recycled?
