A binman with a large social media following has warned households that some food and drink cartons should not automatically be treated as paper recycling, because they contain a shiny inner layer.
The No1 Binman, who has more than 220,000 followers on TikTok, discussed lined cartons in a recent video. He explained that the packaging can include a shiny inner layer, meaning it should not automatically be treated like paper.
What the binman said
He explained: "So this could also be milk, like the disgusting long life milk, orange juice, apple juice in a carton, all that sort of stuff." These cartons are often made from layers of paperboard, plastic and sometimes aluminium.
The binman advised viewers to check how their local authority collects the packaging before deciding where it belongs, saying "Do check your councils, some may vary." He went on to note that the correct bin can depend on whether a household has separate paper and plastic collections or a mixed recycling system.
Council rules vary
Government guidance lists liquid food and drink cartons, including Tetra Pak-style packaging, as items with limited kerbside collection across the UK. That means availability can vary between areas, so checking the council's recycling guidance is more reliable than assuming the same rules apply everywhere.
In England, rules introduced in 2026 require household waste collectors to provide collections for cartons as part of the wider dry recycling stream, although paper and card can be collected separately or together with other recyclables in some circumstances. WRAP, the UK's waste and resources charity, has published guidance to help councils incorporate liquid cartons into household collections.
Where cartons should go
The No1 Binman said cartons should go with plastic recycling where a household has separate plastic and paper containers. He added: "Yes, it's made of cardboard, but it's the inner bit, which is the bit that gets recycled better than the other one."
Before putting an empty carton in the bin, residents should check their council's online recycling checker or collection guidance. Some authorities ask people to rinse and flatten cartons first, so it is worth checking the preparation instructions as well as which waste bin to use.
