Frequently Asked Questions about Cartons
 Q: What is a carton?
 A:  Cartons are a type of packaging for food and beverage products you can purchase at the store.  They are available in two types - shelf-stable and refrigerated.

Shelf-stable carton products that are recyclable:

Soy Milk

Soup and broth

Wine (like the one pictured to the left)

Refrigerated carton products that are recyclable:
Milk

Juice (like the one pictured lower right)

Cream

Egg substitutes

Q:  What are cartons made from?
 A:  Cartons are mainly made from paper in the form of paperboard, as well as thin layers of polyethylene (plastic) and/or aluminum.  Shelf-stable cartons contain on average 74% paper, 22% polyethylene and 4% aluminum.  Refrigerated cartons contain about 80% paper and 20% polyethylene.  Note:  None have wax coatings anymore.

Q:  How do I recycle cartons?
 A:  Simply place the cartons in your recycle bin or roll-cart.  Please remove the caps and straws and discard in the trash.  Make sure the carton is empty before recycling.  No need to rinse.

Q:  What happens to the cartons after they are collected and processed for recycling?
 A:  After the cartons are baled at a recycling processing facility, the bales are shipped to paper mills, where the cartons are mixed with water in a gigantic blender to extract all the paper fiber from the plastic and aluminum.  The paper fiber is then ready to be used in making new products such as recycled paper products and even building materials.  

Still hungry for more carton recycling information? If so, please visit www.RecycleCartons.com.