Recycling

Lyra

Lyra

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I just have a tiny question. You know those juice/milk cartons that has a plastic cap (such as Sainsbury Juice, or organic milk carton), can i just cut off the plastic cap and the rest will be recycable?

I have been cutting it off - but the rest of the carton seems too plasticcy to be recycled and there is no mark on the actual carton saying it is recycable.

Why do they put a plastic cap on them anyhow?

Help is appreciated.

Thanks :)
 
Lyra said:
Why do they put a plastic cap on them anyhow?
Click to expand...

Because it makes it easier for pensioners etc. to open them rather than having to do the whole tear/fold back/pinch and squeeze type of exercise that you have to do to get into tetrapack type cartons without them.

On the more cynical side of things it also adds further value to the packaging which means it can be sold for more.
 
grokit23 said:
Lyra said:
Why do they put a plastic cap on them anyhow?
Click to expand...

Because it makes it easier for pensioners etc. to open them rather than having to do the whole tear/fold back/pinch and squeeze type of exercise that you have to do to get into tetrapack type cartons without them.

On the more cynical side of things it also adds further value to the packaging which means it can be sold for more.
Click to expand...

hm - i guess you are right - although there could be easier packaging which could be opened by scissors, as some juice cartons are. Just feel the plastuc sometimes is a waste of time, and annoying for recycling me ;)

thankies.
 
it depends on the area. many won't recycle them because the carbord of the container is coated to make it waterproof (so the juice doesn't fall out!) this means that some recycling processes can't break it down properly, or the mixture of cardboard and plasticy stuff messes it up somehow.
 
but having said that some areas do. so i guess it just depends on how they do it round your way.
 
hm - imight have to call them up then.. maybe i can find a link for camden online....

there is a plastic coat on ours... as my housemates just cant be bothered recycling at all - i am now left with a cupboard full of these cartons which i need to do something about soon - or they will take over the house... :lol:
 
our recycling scheme in brixton doesn't do them, tetra-pak disgust me - they've obviously been challenged about their non-recyclability, cos recently they have added the phrases 'tetrapak and the environment', and 'just bin it'.
even though they use 'renewable sourced cardboard'

i try and get my orange juice from lidl, as they do it in glass bottles for 60p.
 
fractalated said:
it depends on the area. many won't recycle them because the carbord of the container is coated to make it waterproof (so the juice doesn't fall out!) this means that some recycling processes can't break it down properly, or the mixture of cardboard and plasticy stuff messes it up somehow.
Click to expand...

Nailed it. It really depends on the area. I don't bother recylcling those kinds of things because most places don't actually use them, and if they say they do it usually turns out that they'll just trash it instead.
 
Good point - well i emailed them and here is the answer for camden borough...

Too bad that i actually did try and recycle them this morning - well from now on ill let my housemates know just to throw them away, as i dont think ill bother with sending them to this depot as it isnt free post, and just would be a bit of waste of time i feel.

Here it is:

Residents who would like to recycle their tetrapak can post their cartons direct to the recycling plant in Fife, please pass on the document below to any residents wishing to utilise this service. The document can be
forwarded by email or printed and posted to a member of the public. The
document is required as the picture on the address label is used to identify the package and pass it on for recycling. NB. This is NOT a freepost address.

Further information can be obtained from:

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment
T 020 8977 6116
F 020 8977 3122
Email: info@drinkscartons.com http://www.drinkscartons.com/docs/recycling_uk.htm
 
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