Successful Promotion of
Carton Recycling
Tips for Your Program
You recycle cartons, now what?
 Each link in the “recycling chain” must be strong to
achieve diversion and recovery of cartons.
Consumers
MRFs
Paper Mills
You recycle cartons, now what?
Without consumers, the chain is broken!
Consumers
MRFs
There is no material for the MRFs or the mills
Paper Mills
Creating the Carton Recycling Buzz
 Increasing visibility of cartons
will drive more cartons to the
recycling bin, the MRF, and the
end markets – keeping the
recycle-cycle going!
 Use the addition of cartons to
your program to help raise
awareness for your entire
program.
Your First Targets
 Update your website
o Most people go online to check
o Carton Council will provide a link to your site
o Link to Carton Council FAQ
 Update your Recycling Guidelines
o Ask Carton Council for graphics
 Other tools used in your community?
 Timing: As soon as possible!
Carton Council Website
If your residents
visit our site, it will
provide a link back
to yours – local
information is the
best information, so
update your site and
let Carton Council
know!
Available Carton Images
Closed cartons
Mixed open and
closed cartons
Open cartons
Limited
space?
We have
individual
carton images
How To Say it?
 We recognize that communicating around
cartons can be challenging.
o “Cartons” is a new term for many people.
o Mixed material packaging has been a “no” for a
long, long, time in recycling programs – long
time recyclers don’t like them!
o Space is at a premium in info materials
 Follow our recommendations!
How to Say it?
 Follow the Carton Council
Recommendations
o
o
o
o
Ok
Better
Best
Don’ts
How to describe cartons
 OK - milk cartons and juice boxes
o Most people recognize these items
o Identifies two common products that are packaged in
cartons
o Does not take a lot of space
o Excludes many other types of cartons that are common on
store shelves.
• May not recover as many cartons as a result
How to describe cartons
 Better - food and beverage cartons
(milk, juice, soup, broth, wine)
o
o
o
o
Broader description
List type of products in cartons
Takes up more space
Maybe too generic
How to describe cartons
 Best – Cartons as its own category
o list cartons as a separate category just like
paper, plastic, metal and glass, then provide
detailed list (milk cartons, juice boxes, soup,
etc, etc)
Paper
Plastic
Metal
Glass
Cartons
Example - OK
Example - Better
Example - Best
Wrong Descriptions of Cartons
 Please do not describe cartons as
o “Waxy coated” –cartons are not waxed coated. That shiny
layer is actually a thin layer of plastic.
o “Tetra Paks” – Tetra Pak is one manufacturer of cartons;
there are many others, so this does not reference all
cartons correctly
o “Aseptic Packaging” – this term refers to one type of
cartons that are found on store shelves and commonly
hold products such as dairy milk alternatives, soups, and
broths. Simply listing this term does not include the 2nd
type of cartons – gable tops or refrigerated that contain
products such as milk, juice, and creamers.
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Example - confusing description
“Paper cardboard” is not an accurate
way to describe cartons.
Other Opportunities
 Promote cartons over
the next year through
different outlets.
o Special events such
as America Recycles
Day or Earth Day
• Highlight cartons in
your display
o Grocery store display
or shelf talkers
• Identifies what local
shoppers can
recycle once they
are done
o Press releases
• Templates are
provided on
“Insider Access”
pages.
o Press events
• Cities from
Milwaukee, WI to
Allentown, PA have
held press events
to feature their
carton recycling
announcement.
Carton Council Resources
 We have developed
resources to assist you
o Tool-kit templates
• Ads, posters, and more
• We add your city name
and info; you print &
distribute
o FAQ
o Graphics
o Press release
templates
 Check out “Insider
Access” on
cartonopportunities.org
A Few Examples
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Press Event - Milwaukee, WI
Example
 Dakota County,
MN
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Example
 City of Irvine, CA
newsletter
23
Example
 City of Denver – direct mailer
24
Example
 Deffenbaugh Industries, KS – tool-kit template
advertisement.
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Thanks!
 For more information, please email
[email protected]
 Keep in touch!
 Visit us on Facebook and Twitter - RecycleCartons
@RecycleCartons
Facebook.com/RecycleCartons
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