The humble beverage carton—often overlooked—has become a quiet hero in the journey toward a circular economy. At first glance, it may look like ordinary packaging. But the truth is: a carton is a complex, engineered material, and recycling it requires both precision and partnership.

At The Waste Trade Company, we’re committed to not only collecting cartons but ensuring they are processed responsibly—and educating the public on how and why it matters.

What Are Cartons Made Of?

Cartons, particularly those made by Tetra Pak, are known as composite or multi-layer packaging. A typical long-life milk or juice carton is made of:

75% Paperboard (wood-based fibers)
20% Polyethylene (PE) – a type of plastic used as a moisture barrier
5% Aluminum Foil – used in aseptic cartons to protect contents from light and oxygen

These layers are bonded together through heat and pressure during production, forming a lightweight, shelf-stable container. This multi-layer structure protects contents without refrigeration, reducing food waste and carbon emissions in transport.

Why Carton Recycling Requires Specialized Technology

The challenge lies in separating these layers for recycling. The process typically involves:

1. Hydrapulping Cartons are shredded and mixed with water in a hydrapulper—a giant blender.
The paper fibers separate and are recovered to make tissue, paperboard, or recycled packaging.
The residual poly/aluminum (PolyAl) material floats to the top or settles depending on density.

2. PolyAl Processing In some cases, PolyAl is used to make plastic-aluminum boards, roof sheeting, or fuel pellets. However, in South Africa, markets for PolyAl are still developing, and some is exported where possible.

3. Drying & Reuse The recovered paper pulp is screened, cleaned, and dried before being sent to local mills for reuse.

This process ensures that up to 70–80% of the original material is recovered and transformed into new products—significantly reducing the environmental impact of single-use packaging.

Who’s Behind Carton Recycling in South Africa?

The carton recycling ecosystem in SA is driven by collaborative partnerships, each playing a specific role:

Tetra Pak South Africa – Works closely with recyclers and paper mills to develop end markets and invest in recycling infrastructure.

PETCO – As the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), PETCO provides funding, coordination, and education around carton recovery through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance.

The Waste Trade Company – We manage collection logistics, engage schools and communities, and facilitate consistent supply of clean recyclables.

Local Paper Mills – Like Mpact, which are equipped to receive and process cartons through hydrapulping.

Municipalities and Buy-Back Centres – Serve as community-level collection hubs.

Together, this network forms the infrastructure for carton recycling, connecting households to industry in a way that’s scalable and sustainable.

Why Clean, Flattened Cartons Matter

When cartons are:

Rinsed: They avoid contamination of the paper pulp and reduce odor or pest issues.
Flattened: They take up less space in collection bags and bales, making transport and storage more efficient.
Dry and Sorted: They’re more valuable and easier to process at mills.

That’s why our school programmes and collection initiatives emphasize education first—because good recycling starts with good habits.

Innovations in Carton Recycling

Globally, advancements are emerging in chemical recycling of multilayer packaging and mechanical separation technologies. While these aren’t yet widespread in SA, the industry is evolving fast.

Tetra Pak has piloted solutions such as:

Extrusion of PolyAl into usable pellets
Composite boards for furniture and building
Advanced pulping techniques to boost fiber recovery

South Africa is in early phases of these developments, but with the right investment and public participation, we’re poised to catch up.

The Way Forward

Cartons are a resource, not waste. Through technical know-how, cross-sector collaboration, and ongoing community education, we can ensure cartons remain part of a closed-loop economy.

At The Waste Trade Company, our job is to connect the dots—between consumers and collection, between schools and sorting, and between packaging and new possibilities.

So next time you finish your long-life milk, remember: it's not just a carton. It’s the beginning of something new.From Carton to Commodity: The Science & System Behind Carton Recycling in South Africa

The humble beverage carton—often overlooked—has become a quiet hero in the journey toward a circular economy. At first glance, it may look like ordinary packaging. But the truth is: a carton is a complex, engineered material, and recycling it requires both precision and partnership.