Recycling of Post-Consumer of Drink Boxes and Milk Cartons, 1993 Recycling Symposium Proceedings

Cathy Foley

The Aseptic Packaging Council (APC), is a trade organization of the manufacturers of aseptic packaging: Combibloc and Tetra-Pak. These manufacturers have been committed to establishing successful recycling programs for the collection and processing of post-consumer drink boxes and milk cartons. Recycling efforts began more than two-and-a-half years ago. The first challenge that the industry faced was that the volume of aseptics alone, approximately 40,000 tons/year was not sufficient volume to interest the recycling industry. Gable top poly coated milk and juice cartons were therefore included in the collection efforts. There is approximately 600,000 tons/year produced. Both of these containers are comprised of the same materials. An aseptic package is 70% paper, 24% low-density polyethylene(LDPE) and 6% foil. A gable top milk or juice carton is 80-85% paper and 15-20% LDPE. Mills were interested in recovering the bright SBS (solid bleached sulphate) fiber from these containers through the hydrapulping process. Initially, a number of pilot programs were instituted to provide experience with collecting, processing and hydrapulping these post-consumer containers.