Tetrapak Recycling In The UK

Image Credit: CFVI/ReduceReuseRecycle.co.uk

A few years ago, it is was very difficult to recycle Tetrapak drinks cartons. Few councils collected them in their roadside collections and huge numbers went to landfll.

Tetrapak has now become the generic term used for drinks cartons made by many different manufacturers.

Now almost all local councils offer drinks carton recycling as part of their kerbside collections. In most council areas you can put

What Is Unique About Recycling Drinks Cartons?

Drinks Cartons are made from 70 to 90% paperboard which is, of course recyclable just like any other paper or card.

Tetrapak and other drinks carton recycling in the UK

The reason that Tetrapak-type cartons cannot be included with our normal paper recycling is the aluminium foil liner and polyethylene cap included with the carton.

For many years, before they could be included in kerbside collections or taken to local recycling centres, Tetrapak themselves did offer to recycle their packaging; however this did mean packing them up yourself and posting them (at your own expense).

Since 2006, Tetrapak have offered advice and financial support for councils to initiate recycling schemes, so your local council don’t really have any excuse for not recycling them!

So, Give Me The Juice on Recycling Drinks Cartons

If you want to recycle your Tetrapak-type cartons, you only need to rinse them out and then flatten them.

You do not need to remove the plastic cap; it is removed during the recycling process. In fact most drinks cartons sold in the UK now are designed to prevent you from removing the plastic cap for just this reason.

If your local council is one of the very few that does not yet collect Tetrapak cartons for recycling, write to your council and ask them what they are going to do about it and request that they introduce Tetrapak recycling.

If you cannot include them in your kerbside collection, they can usually be taken to your local recycling centre.

Find Recycling Facilities in Your Area

To learn more about how Tetrapak cartons are recycled, here is a video which explains it all.

To find out more visit ACE UK which includes an interactive map showing which local councils offer kerbside collections or have collection facilities at recycling banks.

The website is run by The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK which represents Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Combibloc, who are the leading manufacturers of food and drink cartons for the UK and European markets.

Tetrapak Recycling In The UK

What Is Unique About Recycling Drinks Cartons?

So, Give Me The Juice on Recycling Drinks Cartons

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