Recycle This Pittsburgh

Milk and Juice Cartons

About These Items

Often refrigerated items such as milk and juice come in these gable-topped paper cartons. These cartons may seem very similar to other paper-based items that are accepted in curbside recycling in Pittsburgh such as paper egg cartons or cereal boxes. However, cartons are not accepted in curbside recycling.

Unfortunately accepting these cartons for recycling requires specialized equipment at the processing point- equipment that the city’s recycling materials processor does not have and the city’s single-stream curbside format makes it hard to separate these items for alternative processing. This doesn’t mean these cartons aren’t recyclable though – they are! Just not locally here in Pittsburgh since there is no facility that collects and processes them. You can learn more about carton recycling at the Carton Council’s Recycle Cartons website. (IMPORTANT NOTE: The Carton Council’s website mistakenly says that you can recycle cartons in Pittsburgh’s curbside program, however Recycle This has confirmed with the City that this is not true.)

The plastic caps that sometimes come with these cartons also can not be recycled through curbside recycling but can be through a few other dedicated channels. See below for more.

Better than Plastic?

Despite not being recyclable locally, these paper cartons do have some environmental advantages over the usual plastic alternatives– they are often made of a high percentage of recycled paper and they will breakdown faster in the environment. However, the plastic coating used inside means when these boxes do biodegrade, they can leave behind plastic that enters the soil and water, making them not appropriate for home composting.

If you purchase these cartons and want to improve the impact of your waste, then look for cartons with a high percentage of post-consumer paper or plastic. This has the benefit of supporting demand for recycled materials, which is key to motivating cities and recycling materials processors to accept more items for recycling.

Drop-off or Mail-in the caps.

Sometimes these cartons include a plastic spout with a screw-on cap. These caps are almost always #5 (polypropylene or PP) or #2 (High-density polyethylene or HDPE). These small caps can’t be recycled in the city’s curbside recycling program, but they can be recycled through other specialty programs:

Drop-off at Reimagined Recycling

Reimagined Recycling is a local program that collects rigid #2 and #5 plastics to be shredded and turned into raw materials to be made into new plastic items.

They run collections on select Sundays at 1225 Larimer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Currently collection events are announced on their Instagram @reimaginedrecyling or on their facebook page. Please check these links for exact dates and times of collection events.

Items must be cleaned with all labels removed. Please remember to wear a mask and follow Reimagined Recycling on for updates and more exciting news to come!

Drop-off at Michael Brothers Hauling

Michael Brothers Hauling is collecting ALL #1 and #2 plastics (including clamshells, cups, etc) at their location at 901 Horning Rd. 15236. They also accept (and even pay for) scrap metal. Their drop-off is a drive through.

Mail to Preserve’s Gimme 5 program with other rigid #5 plastics.

Preserve runs a collection program called Gimme 5 that accepts #5 plastics, all plastic caps, prescription bottles, toothbrushes, and dip & dairy containers.

Please note that as of June 29, 2022, Preserver has still paused their Gimme 5 mail in program due to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that their Preserve Toothbrush Takeback program IS running during this time.

You can mail in your #5 plastics to the Gimme 5 program. (To make this mail-in recycling program as environmentally-friendly as possible, Preserve encourages you to reuse a box and pack it densely, and if possible, ship by ground.)

Mail to:
Preserve Gimme 5
823 State Route 13
Cortland, NY 13045-6574

Recycle at the Square Cafe through TerraCycle.

TerraCycle offers a bottle cap recycling program. Their programs typically involve purchasing a shipping box for your item, which you then fill and mail back (shipping included).

Currently (as of Feb. 2020) Square Cafe in Regent Square is collecting bottle caps through this program. Their collection bin is in the front atrium of their restaurant.