Milk and juice cartons are made from a material called liquid paperboard (LPB), which is constructed from cardboard with layers of plastic, and in the case of long-life products, a thin layer of aluminium foil. Cardboard makes up the largest proportion of these materials - about 88% of Tetra Pak 1 litre fresh milk carton for example.

For more than 40 years LPB has been used to package a wide range of foods including milk, juices, cream, custard, detergents, sauces and soups.

Milk and Juice Cartons in the East Gippsland Shire Council area

Below is where you can recycle milk and juice cartons near you:

1. East Gippsland Shire Council - Kerbside Recycling Collection
2. Drop off Facility - Bairnsdale Landfill
3. Drop off Facility - Lakes Entrance Landfill
4. Drop off Facility - Mallacoota Landfill
5. Drop off Facility - Orbost Landfill
6. Drop off Facility - Wairewa Landfill
7. Drop off Facility - Bemm River Transfer Station
8. Drop off Facility - Bruthen Transfer Station
9. Drop off Facility - Buchan Transfer Station
10. Drop off Facility - Lindenow Transfer Station
11. Drop off Facility - Marlo Transfer Station
12. Drop off Facility - Metung Transfer Station
13. Drop off Facility - Omeo Transfer Station
14. Drop off Facility - Swifts Creek Transfer Station

About Liquidpaperboard Recycling:

• Over one billion milk and juice cartons are used each year in Australia
• The lightweight nature of cartons means they require less energy to transport and refrigerate than other beverage packaging.
• LPB is recycled back into paper products like cardboard boxes.
• Most councils in Australia collect LPB for recycling.

Source: Sustainability Victoria

There are two types of cartons

Gable top cartons

• Made from a layer of board sandwiched between two layers of very thin plastic.
• Some gable top cartons used for packaging fruit juice have an additional layer of foil and a third layer of plastic. These extra layers improve the shelf life and retain flavours.

Aseptic bricks

• Aseptic bricks (UHT or long life packs) are a newer type of carton
• They are made from five layers: three of plastic, one of foil and one of board.
• The products in the cartons are sterilised before being packaged and, as the cartons fully seal the contents, they do not need to be refrigerated before opening. This results in savings in energy during storage and transport.