Consumer Tips /

What to do when your city doesn’t recycle cartons?

We get a lot of questions about how to recycle cartons in areas that don’t yet have a curbside or dropoff program.

First, let’s take a walk down the carton recycling journey. When the Carton Council was formed in 2009, carton recycling was only accessible to 18% of households. Now carton recycling is available to more tha 60% of households across the U.S. This growth is thanks in large part to support and engagement from community members like you. While carton recycling programs continue to grow everyday, curbside and drop-off options are unfortunately not yet available everywhere.

However, there are still ways for you to support carton recycling! Here’s what you can do:

1. MAIL YOUR CARTONS
While your residential area might not have carton recycling yet, our network of recyclers can recycle them for you! All you have to do is mail them in to one of our four facilities. Whether it’s two or twenty, send them in when it’s most convenient for you. If a facility is listed below, Carton Council has confirmed it is currently accepting cartons via mail. Here’s how to mail them:

1. Make sure your cartons are: empty, dry, and keep straws in and caps on, if that applies. Flatten your cartons to save space.

2. Address your cartons to the facility closest to you, and include proper postage. Write “CARTONS” on the front of your package. Please note that locations are not able to confirm receipt of packages.  When shipments arrive at a facility, the cartons are emptied from the box and deposited with cartons already at the facility and the shipping box is recycled.

Firstar Fiber
10330 “I” Street; Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68127

Tidewater Fiber
1958 Diamond Hill Road
Chesapeake, VA 23324

Emmet County Recycling
7363 Pleasantview Rd
Harbor Springs, MI 49740

2. REQUEST CARTON RECYCLING

Help bring carton recycling to your community by signing the petition. We’ll take your message of support, along with thousands of others, to help us achieve our vision of a truly nationwide carton recycling program. And of course, when carton recycling comes to your area, we’ll be sure to let you know. In 2017, we brought carton recycling to cities like Grand Rapids, Michigan; Newport News, Virginia; and Pasadena, California among others.

The Carton Council is working to improve carton recycling availability through city and community partnerships and we hope to include your community soon. For any other questions and ideas of how to support your community in carton recycling make sure to join our Carton Recycling Champions Facebook group.