Calling all Tetra Paks - October 2008

Tetra Paks can finally be recycled thanks to the launch of a new initiative by arc21, Tetra Pak Ltd and ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons). Over 50 special collection banks have been placed throughout the region to help further boost recycling levels (contact your council for location details).

It’s estimated that the average person uses 54 Tetra Pak cartons a year, that’s over 200 cartons a year for a family of four.

Annually the UK produces 55,000 tonnes of paper-based cartons for everything from milk to juice and even wine. Instead of ending up in landfill sites, the cartons can now be recycled into a number of different products, such as plasterboard liner, high-strength paper bags and envelopes.

Ricky Burnett, Communications Manager at arc21, said:

“This scheme is a significant development representing the first time that a member of the packaging industry is directly supporting councils’ efforts to convert more waste into a resource. We knew that there was a lot of frustration that it wasn’t possible to recycle these cartons, so it’s great news to be able to provide this service and further boost recycling levels.”

Richard Hands, Environment Manager at Tetra Pak Ltd and chairman of ACE UK, added:

“Whilst cartons are successfully recycled in large volumes for many years throughout Europe, the UK has a long way to go. It’s therefore fantastic news that arc21 is taking a lead by adding cartons to the list of materials collected for recycling and we very much hope that the initiative is successful.”

“We and our industry partners are committed to increasing the level of carton recycling in the UK with the aim of reaching a national network of carton collection by the end of 2008. Our work with arc21 takes us and households in the area one step closer to achieving that.”

Before taking your ‘empties’ to the collection banks, please remember to wash out and squash your cartons. Only paper-based liquid food and drinks cartons should be placed in the recycling banks unless otherwise specified.

In the 10 months since the banks were introduced over 4½ tonnes of Tetra Paks have been recycled – the equivalent of 30,000 one-litre cartons.

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