A recycling expert known as The No1 Binman has told households that lined cartons used for milk and fruit juice may not belong in the paper recycling bin, urging people to check their local council rules before disposing of them.
The TikTok creator, who has amassed more than 220,000 followers, explained that cartons combine paperboard with plastic and, in some cases, a thin aluminium layer, so they cannot simply be treated as paper alone.
Why cartons differ from cardboard
In a recent video, The No1 Binman said: "So this could also be milk, like the disgusting long life milk, orange juice, apple juice in a carton, all that sort of stuff." He highlighted that the packaging's inner lining is part of what makes it different from ordinary cardboard.
The binman's main message was to check local collection rules rather than assume every council handles the packaging the same way. He explained: "But do check your councils, some may vary," adding that households with separate paper and plastic recycling may need to put cartons in the plastic container instead of the paper one.
Official guidance and local variations
Government guidance classifies liquid food and drink cartons as having limited collection across the UK. In practice, councils can use different collection systems, which means residents should follow the instructions provided for their own household.
England's Simpler Recycling rules, which came into effect for household collections this year, include cartons within the wider dry recyclable materials stream. Government guidance also allows paper and card to be collected alongside other dry recyclables where local circumstances make that appropriate.
When plastic and paper are collected separately, The No1 Binman said cartons should go with the plastic recycling rather than the paper. He also advised that residents should rely on their council's guidance for the correct disposal route.
Preparation and checking local rules
It is worth checking whether cartons need to be emptied, rinsed or flattened before collection, as preparation instructions can vary too. A quick look at a council recycling webpage or online checker can help households avoid putting an item in the wrong bin.
