Where to recycle: Curbside Bin

To recycle your cartons, empty any remaining contents and put them in your curbside bin. Leave your cap on your carton or push your straw back into the container when recycling. From there cartons are sorted from other materials at recycling facilities manually, with infrared technology, or artificial intelligence technologies.

What types of this material qualify for recycling?

Carton containers made primarily of paper and food-safe coatings, they are most commonly used for milk, especially plant-based milks, broths and soups, juice boxes, and more.

Why is it important to recycle cartons?

According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, a ton of paper made from recycled fibers instead of virgin fibers conserves 7,000 gallons of water, 17-31 trees, 4,000 kWh of electricity, and 60 pounds of air pollutants. When cartons are recycled properly, new products can be made using the raw materials, right here in Michigan.

Learn more about carton recycling at the Carton Council's website here.

What is it recycled into?

At the end of their life, they are reprocessed at paper mills to create new paper products like paper towels, newspaper, notebook paper, and more. Paper mills use large, blender-like machines called Hydropulpers to separate carton paper from any plastic/aluminum within the product using water. Separated plastic/aluminum is sent to other recycling centers to be used in alternative products.

Some cartons also go to recycling companies where they can be used to make construction boards by pressing paper using heat and pressure.