SAMPLE TOOL KIT FOR FACILITIES AND COMMUNITIES Congratulations! Your recycling program, facility or service now accepts cartons for
recycling!
The Carton Council has developed promotional material templates to assist communities,
facilities, and haulers to promote carton recycling to their residents and customers. A
variety of material templates from book marks to bill stuffers provide a broad range of
tools to communicate carton recycling to different audiences in different ways.
The Carton Council will customize the materials and provide the files, so each community,
facility or hauler may coordinate their own printing and production.
The materials included here are:
Tool-Kit Items
Suggested Uses/Distribution
22 x 28 Poster
Events, high traffic areas with good visibility
Advertisements
Newsletters, local papers
Bill Stuffer
In bills
Bookmark
Distribute at events, local libraries
Door Hanger
Direct contact with customers at the door!
Frequently Asked Questions
Handout, website, newsletters
Kid Activity Sheets
Distribute at events, schools, libraries
Magnet
Distribute at events
Notices
Perfect for leaving behind in curbside recycling bins
Pledge card
Large size (think sweepstakes winner giant check!)
perfect for a council or commission meeting
Recycling Guidelines
Complete with photos of acceptable recyclables,
recycling guidelines flyers are typically the key
communication piece provided to recyclers. Use one
of the other tool-kit items on the reverse side.
Truck Sign
Valuable promotional space that passes by customers
every day.
For more information or questions about these materials, please contact
Anna Collinson at [email protected] or (734) 996-1361 x 269.
YES! Cartons
are Recyclable!
NOW! (YOUR CITY) accepts cartons for recycling!
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of a carton’s
useful life. Made mainly from high-quality paper, cartons are easily
recyclable and in high demand by manufacturers of recycled products.
HOW? Simply place empty cartons in your recycling bin with your
plastic, metal and glass containers.
WOW! After cartons are collected curbside, they are taken to a
materials recycling facility to be sorted and baled. The bales of recycled
cartons are then shipped to paper mills, where cartons are mixed with water
in a gigantic blender to extract all the paper fiber. These recycled carton
paper fibers are a valuable resource for making products such as recycled
paper products and even building materials.
For more information on how cartons are recycled,
visit www.RecycleCartons.com
10/2010
Poster (22 x 28)
YES! Cartons
are Recyclable!
NOW! (YOUR CITY) accepts cartons for recycling!
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of a carton’s
useful life. Made mainly from high-quality paper, cartons are easily
recyclable and in high demand by manufacturers of recycled products.
HOW? Simply place empty cartons in your recycling bin with your
plastic, metal and glass containers.
WOW! After cartons are collected curbside, they are taken to a
materials recycling facility to be sorted and baled. The bales of recycled
cartons are then shipped to paper mills, where cartons are mixed with
water in a gigantic blender to extract all the paper fiber. These recycled
carton paper fibers are a valuable resource for making products such as
recycled paper products and even building materials.
For more information on how cartons are recycled,
visit www.RecycleCartons.com
10/2010
Advertisements
Full Page (8.5 x 11)
NOW! (YOUR CITY) accepts cartons
for recycling! The last drop of milk, juice or
soup does not mark the end of a carton’s useful life.
Cartons are easy to recycle and in high demand.
YES!Cartons
are Recyclable!
HOW?
Simply place empty cartons in your
recycling bin with your plastic, metal and glass
containers.
WOW!
The bales of recycled cartons are
shipped to paper mills, where cartons are mixed with
water in a gigantic blender to extract all the paper
fiber. These recycled carton paper fibers are a valuable
resource for making products such as recycled paper
products and even building materials.
For more information on how
cartons are recycled, visit
www.RecycleCartons.com
10/2010
1/3 Page (8.5 x 4.75)
Now (CITY) says…
YES!Cartons
YES!Cartons
are Recyclable!
are Recyclable!
For more information on how
cartons are recycled, visit
www.RecycleCartons.com
10/2010
Business Card Size (3.5 x 2)
NOW! (YOUR CITY) recycles CARTONS!
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of
a carton’s useful life—recycle it! HOW? Simply place empty
cartons in your recycling bin with your plastic, metal and glass
containers. WOW! The recycled
paper fiber is used to make new
paper and building products.
10/2010
1/4 Page (4.75 x 4.75)
Advertisements
YES! Cartons are Recyclable!
Milk cartons, juice boxes and other carton packaging are now
collected for recycling in your community’s curbside recycling
program. Simply rinse cartons and place in your curbside bin. For
more information, please visit (INSERT CITY WEBSITE.)
10/2010
Bill Stuffer (7 x 3)
YES!
Cartons are
Recyclable!
YES!
Milk cartons, juice
boxes and other carton
packaging are now
collected for recycling
in your community’s
curbside recycling
program.
Simply rinse cartons
and place in your
curbside bin. For more
information, please
visit (INSERT CITY
WEBSITE.)
Cartons are Recyclable!
10/2010
Magnet (3.5 x 4)
Bookmark (1.5 X6)
YES! Cartons are Recyclable!
NOW! (YOUR CITY HERE)
YES!Cartons
accepts cartons for recycling!
are Recyclable!
YES!Cartons
are Recyclable!
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does
not mark the end of a carton’s useful life.
HOW?
Simply place empty cartons in
your recycling bin with your plastic, metal
and glass containers.
WOW!
NOW! (YOUR CITY) recycles CARTONS!
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of a
carton’s useful life—recycle it!
The recycled paper fibers
NOW! (YOUR CITY) recycles CARTONS!
are a valuable resource for making recycled
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of a
paper products and building materials.
carton’s useful life—recycle it!
HOW? Simply place empty cartons in your recycling bin with
HOW? Simply place empty cartons in your recycling bin with
your plastic, metal and glass containers.
your plastic, metal and glass containers.
WOW! The recycled paper fibers are a valuable resource
WOW! The recycled paper fibers are a valuable resource
for making recycled paper products and building materials.
for making recycled paper products and building materials.
10/2010
10/2010
Notices (4.25 x 5.5)
YES!Cartons
For more information contact:
(INSERT
PHONE
NUMBER AND WEBSITE URL HERE)
YES!Cartons
are Recyclable!
are Recyclable!
10/2010
Door Hanger (3.5 x 8.5)
NOW! (YOUR CITY) recycles CARTONS!
NOW! (YOUR CITY) recycles CARTONS!
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of a
The last drop of milk, juice or soup does not mark the end of a
carton’s useful life—recycle it!
carton’s useful life—recycle it!
HOW? Simply place empty cartons in your recycling bin with
HOW? Simply place empty cartons in your recycling bin with
Some of these things can be recycled. Draw a line to the recycling
bin if an item can be recycled. If it canʼt, put it in the trash!
Kid Activity Sheet - Matching (8.5 x 11)
Help our truck through the maze to pick up all the recyclables and
get them to the recycle factory!
Kid Activity Sheet - Maze (8.5 x 11)
Itʼs always good to find things to recycle! Help us find these
nine words hidden in the word search below.
S
K
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P
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CARTONS
BOXES
MAGAZINES
TRUCK
RECYCLE
JUICE BOX
CARDBOARD
TIN CANS
NEWSPAPER
Kid Activity Sheet - Word Search (8.5 x 11)
FAQ?
Frequently Asked Questions About Cartons
What is a carton?
Cartons are a type of packaging for food and beverage products you can purchase at the store.
They are easy to recognize and are available in two types—shelf-stable and refrigerated.
Shelf-stable cartons (types of products)
Refrigerated (types of products)
Juice
Milk
Milk
Juice
Soy Milk
Cream
Soup and broth
Egg substitutes
Wine
You will find these
products on the
shelves in grocery
stores.
You will find these
products in the
chilled sections
of grocery stores.
What are cartons made from?
Cartons are mainly made from paper in the form of paperboard, as well as thin layers of polyethylene (plastic) and/or
aluminum. Shelf-stable cartons contain on average 74% paper, 22% polyethylene and 4% aluminum. Refrigerated
cartons contain about 80% paper and 20% polyethylene.
Are cartons recyclable?
Yes! Cartons are recyclable. In fact, the paper fiber contained in cartons is extremely valuable and useful to make
new products.
Where can I recycle cartons?
To learn if your community accepts cartons for recycling, please visit RecycleCartons.com or check with your local
recycling program.
How do I recycle cartons?
Simply place the cartons in your recycle bin. If your recycling program collects materials as “single-stream,” you may
place your cartons in your bin with all the other recyclables. If your recycling program collects materials as “dualstream” (paper items together and plastic, metal and glass together), please place cartons with your plastic, metal and
glass containers.
Wait, you just said cartons are made mainly from paper. Don’t I want to
put them with other paper recyclables?
Good question. The answer is no. Once cartons arrive at your local recycling facility, they will be sorted separately from
the rest of the materials. To make this work at the facility, it is easier to modify how containers are sorted than paper.
In the end, as long as all cartons are sorted and baled together, the material will then be recycled.
10/2010
Frequently Asked Questions (Side 1 - 8.5 x 11)
Do I need to remove the cap or straw when recycling my cartons?
Yes, please remove caps and straws.
Do I need to rinse my cartons?
There are no requirements to rinse your cartons. As long as the carton is empty, it is okay to place in your recycling.
However, you may want to rinse your cartons to ensure the carton is empty and to alleviate any potential odor problems
that may arise from storing your recyclables for collection.
What happens to cartons after they are collected?
After cartons are collected curbside, they are taken to a materials recycling facility to be sorted and baled. The bales of
recycled cartons are then shipped to paper mills, where cartons are mixed with water in a gigantic blender to extract all
the paper fiber from the plastic and aluminum. The paper fiber is then ready to be used in making new products such as
recycled paper products and even building materials.
Do recycled cartons become new products?
Yes! The recycled carton paper fibers are a valuable resource for making new products. What recycled cartons become
depends on the area of the country and the mill itself. Some mills recycle cartons into tissues, while others use the
paper fibers to make office paper. In some cases, they are even being used as one of the materials for wall boards
manufacturing. By recycling, your cartons are put back in business as the items you use every day!
Is there a waxy coating on cartons? Isn’t that why they are difficult to
recycle?
What you may see as wax on a carton is actually a thin layer of polyethylene (plastic). Cartons are not difficult to recycle
as long as the right systems are in place to do so.
What happens to the aluminum and plastic left over after the carton
recycling process in a paper mill?
The aluminum/plastic combination left over from the shelf-stable cartons and the plastic left over from refrigerated
cartons can be used in different ways. Some mills are using the material for generating energy; others sell it to plastic
manufacturers that use them for lumber board-like materials. Still in some cases the material ends up in a landfill.
The Carton Council is working with paper mills to find the better solution for the left over material while taking into
consideration environmental and financial aspects.
Why should I recycle cartons?
Made from mostly paper, cartons are a natural when it comes to recycling. Plus, the paper is in demand by companies
that make recycled paper products. Adding cartons to a recycling program increases waste diversion, reducing the need
for disposal, and offers a potential revenue stream from the sale of cartons.
Who is the Carton Council?
The Carton Council is a group of packaging companies seeking to reduce the environmental impact of
cartons by expanding recycling programs across the country and continuously improving cartons’ environmental
performance. The members of the Carton Council are Elopak, Evergreen, SIG Combibloc, and Tetra Pak. For more
information, please visit www.RecycleCartons.com.
Frequently Asked Questions (Side 2 - 8.5 x 11)
Curbside Recycling Guidelines
Your City Here
NEW!
Milk, juice, broth,
soup and other food
& beverage cartons
Aluminum & other
metal cans
Glass bottles & jars
• Please flatten all
cardboard boxes.
Newspapers, brochures
& inserts (no bags, do
not tie & bundle)
File folders,
office paper
Greeting cards,
regular & junk mail
• Empty and rinse all
containers.
Please follow all
guidelines carefully.
Questions? Please contact:
Paperboard boxes
(cereal, pasta, tissue etc.)
Loose metal jar lids
& steel bottle caps
Corrugated cardboard
(flattened)
These items are not accepted:
• Styrofoam
Magazines & catalogs
Phone books
• Electronic waste (batteries,
cell phones, computers, etc.)
• Hazardous waste (paint,
pesticides, cleaners)
• Used oil or oil containers
• Window panes, mirrors,
ceramics
#1 & #2 Plastic bottles
& jugs (caps removed)
• Medical waste (syringes,
needles, etc.)
Guidelines provided by:
• Yard waste
• Food waste
• Trash
10/2010
Recycling Guidelines (Version 1 - 8.5 x 11)
Curbside Recycling Guidelines
Your City Here
NEW!
Milk, juice, broth,
soup and other food
& beverage cartons
Aluminum & other
metal cans
Glass bottles & jars
Small scrap metal items:
old pots and pans, metal
hangers, small appliances
(like toasters)
• Please flatten all
cardboard boxes.
Newspapers, brochures
& inserts (no bags, do
not tie & bundle)
File folders,
office paper
Greeting cards,
regular & junk mail
• Empty and rinse all
containers.
Please follow all
guidelines carefully.
Questions? Please contact:
Paperboard boxes
(cereal, pasta, tissue etc.)
Loose metal jar lids
& steel bottle caps
Corrugated cardboard
(flattened)
These items are not accepted:
• Styrofoam
Magazines & catalogs
Phone books
#3 – #7 Plastic yogurt containers,
butter tubs, microwave dinner trays
• Electronic waste (batteries,
cell phones, computers, etc.)
• Hazardous waste (paint,
pesticides, cleaners)
• Used oil or oil containers
• Window panes, mirrors,
ceramics
#1 & #2 Plastic bottles
& jugs (caps removed)
• Medical waste (syringes,
needles, etc.)
Guidelines provided by:
• Yard waste
• Food waste
• Trash
10/2010
Recycling Guidelines (Version 2 - 8.5 x 11)
WE, the City of (insert city name)
PLEDGE to RECYCLE CARTONS
Add cartons to our community recycling
Promote and provide education about the
importance of carton recycling
Divert more materials from the waste
stream through carton recycling
10/2010
Pledge Card (36 x 18)
YES!Cartons are Recyclable!
For more information on how cartons are
recycled, visit www.RecycleCartons.com
10/2010
Truck Sign (24 x 12)