Did you know that long-life cartons are referred to as septic bricks in the recycling industry? If you answered no, don’t worry, we didn’t know either until we did some digging…
Back in the day, we thought long-life cartons were a-okay because they were made out of paper, but what we didn’t know about were the extra layers which make them extremely difficult to recycle. What happens when liquid touches paper? Paper goes soggy. And what do companies do to combat this? They line the paper cartons with a layer of plastic and a layer of aluminium to protect the contents from seeping into the paper carton. Most cartons will also have a little plastic lid.
When you throw your long-life carton into your recycling bin, its carbon footprint undergoes a long and arduous journey from your recycling bin to a recycling facility, and unfortunately, the majority do not make it.
There are several different recycling facilities, so once the recycling from your bin is sorted into different categories; plastics are sent to one facility, glass to another, etc. These cartons have to go to a special facility where they are broken down and the layers are separated through a water mulching process. These layers are then sent off to their respective recycling facility – sadly, only a very small percent are actually successfully recycled. The NSW Government has even taken long-life cartons off the recycling list, so these bad boys are going straight to landfill. But it’s not all bad news…
We’ve always believed that small changes can create a big impact, and with your support since 2017, we’ve prevented over 700,000 containers and cartons from entering landfill. When one reusable and recyclable Mylk Base jar can create 10 litres of milk, why would you choose anything else? Make the switch today on Global Recycling Day (March 18) and help us make a positive difference.
