Several Midtown KC Post readers recently asked whether its ok to put waxed milk cartons in our blue recycling bins.
We asked Matt Riggs, a recycling expert over at the MidAmerica Regional Council’s Solid Waste Management District, and here’s his answer.
“All aseptic (“wax”) paper food and beverage containers (milk, juice, soup, broth, wine, etc.) are accepted at area recycling centers and through your curbside recycling service. What people think of as wax is actually a plastic coating. There are two types of aseptic food and beverage cartons: shelf-stable and refrigerated. Refrigerated cartons are made from paperboard (non-corrugated cardboard) and coated with a thin layer of polyethylene, a type of plastic. The shelf-stable cartons contain a thin layer of aluminum which serves as an oxygen and light barrier. Regardless of type though, all are recyclable here in the Kansas City metro area.”
Riggs’ Solid Waste Management District aims to divert 80 percent of waste from landfills by 2023. The district says the average person throws away seven pounds of waste every day. In a recent survey, 54 percent said they would like to recycle more and more than half said not knowing what they can recycle is the big obstacle preventing them from doing so.
The recycling people there have launched a campaign to help people understand what they can and cannot put in the blue bins. They say, while most things can be recycled, composted or reused, there are a few things that can’t including: Styrofoam food containers, microwave food trays, plastic silverware, medical and personal hygiene items, hazardous substance containers, plastic bags made of multiple material types, and broken glass.
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