How can I reuse or recycle … mixed materials baby milk containers?
We’ve had an email from “nannaspoon”:
Can I recycle the boxes that baby powered milk comes in? Cow & Gate comes in a laminated cardboard outer case, plastic lid and silver-foil covering on the inside of the box which is non-detachable. What should I put it in with – cardboard, plastic or foil?
Oooh, that’s a good question: I suspect if you can pull the lid off – and it’s a type of plastic covered by your recycling people – then that’s ok to be thrown in with plastics but does anyone know what the deal is with foil-lined cardboard?
Cow and Gate claims this new packaging is better for the environment that their old tins and they “use recycled materials wherever possible” – but they’ve not got back to me about how the tubs can be recycled post-consumer. (UPDATE: they have done now. Their response is in the comments.)
Any ideas for reuses?
Sounds like Tetrapak to me. Can be recycled by posting it to Scotland if the local authority don’t collect it.
http://www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk/
A response from Cow & Gate just arrived:
The lids of the eazypack are fine to recycle with all other plastic but the
main body of the pack needs to be recycled by a specialist.
There is a company you can get in touch with who will be able to tell you of
any schemes in your area, The address and website is below: –
The Liquid food carton manufacturers association,
Churcham house,
1 Bridgeman road,
Teddington,
TW11 9AJ
http://www.drinkscartons.com/docs/recycling_uk.htm
i know the sort of thing you mean, some hot chocolate powders and things come in similar packaging.
they make great pin-hole camera! just spray paint the inside black and you’ve got a light-tight device!
maybe your local school/community centre/gallery would want them?
Presumably these minus the lids can now go in the liquid food carton /tetrapak/beverage cartons etc bank that many local authorities and supermarkets now have.
Use them for dirty diaper disposal.
Keep on a kitchen counter for kitchen scraps.
Plant herbs in them.
Keep baby’s small toys in it.
Store dry milk in them.
I was just wondering this. I think baby food companies should make everything recyclable. Even putting it in a plastic container is better as these can be recycled. You think of the thousands of babies that are born daily and many use formula, that’s a lot of waste. They should be doing more. I bought another brand a few weeks back which isn’t as popular but this was in a cardboard box with foil packaging inside. This was much more recyclable. It’s all marketing now and brands and environment last.