Keep coated cardboard out of recycling
Small acts are all it takes to make a big impact
To minimise the risk of contamination keep coated cardboard items (ice cream cartons, drink cups, and long life milk cartons also known as tetrapaks) out of your recycling and food and garden organics bins. Put coated cardboard into your general rubbish instead. This helps to recover more resources from your recycling and turn them into new things like park benches, cardboard boxes and mulch.
It’s a small act with a big impact on Victoria’s sustainable future.
Why it matters
Coated cardboard can’t be recycled because it is lined with plastic or wax which is bonded to the cardboard and can’t be removed.
Coated cardboard items in a recycling bin are considered to be contaminants. Contamination causes several problems in the sorting and processing of recyclables. It can even lead to an entire load of recycling being sent to landfill.
Tips and tricks
Is this cardboard coated?
It may look like regular cardboard, but cardboard used to hold liquids or frozen food is usually coated to keep it from getting wet. This can include takeaway containers that look like they are plain brown cardboard. If you look closely, they have a thin waxy or plastic lining. Put them into your general rubbish bin.
Coffee cup recycling
Takeaway coffee cups often have a plastic lining between two layers of cardboard, which means they cannnot be put into your recycling bin. There are other options though. If you are buy a take away coffee but don't have your reusable cup with you, you can still keep the disposable cup out of landfill by taking it to your nearest coffee cup recycling point.
Find a small act that works for you
There are many easy ways to reduce waste and recycle more. Find small acts that work for you and be part of Victoria’s sustainable future.
