At Millennium, we’re proud to process a wide variety of materials, including items like cartons, glass, and pizza boxes that other facilities might not accept.
But many other types of “mixed-material” packaging are a challenge not just for us, but for recycling facilities across the country.
What Are Mixed-Material Items?
Mixed-material items combine different materials—like paper, plastic, and metal—into one product. While the materials might be recyclable on their own, when they’re fused together, they become nearly impossible to separate.
Some common examples include:
- Pringles, refrigerated dough, and nut cans: A mashup of metal, foil-lined cardboard, and plastic.
- Coffee bags, chip bags, other sealed foil bags: Layers of paper, foil, and plastic keep your coffee or chips fresh, but they can’t be separated for recycling.
- Kids juice and sauce pouches: Shiny, crinkly, and made from plastic and metalized foil.
- Toothpaste tubes: A mix of plastic and aluminum that’s tightly bonded.
- Blister packs (for pills): Plastic trays fused with foil seals.
Why Can’t They Be Recycled?
Recycling is all about creating uniform streams of material that can be processed in bulk. When items are made of mixed materials, they create problems:
- They Can’t Be Separated: Most recycling facilities don’t have the technology to pull apart tightly bonded layers.
- They Contaminate Batches: Mixed-material items can compromise the quality of otherwise recyclable materials.
- They Cause Equipment Issues: The combination of materials can clog or damage sorting equipment.
What About Cartons?
Here’s the good news: cartons are an exception! At Millennium Recycling, we can recycle:
- Juice boxes
- Milk and soup cartons (even shelf-stable ones)
- Frozen food boxes
To recycle these properly, just make sure they’re empty and rinsed, and toss the caps and straws in the trash.
How to Handle Tricky Mixed-Material Items
So, what do you do with all those other mixed-material products? Here are a few tips:
1. Choose Smarter Packaging
When shopping, look for products with recyclable packaging. For example, choose paperboard boxes over foil-lined bags.
2. Separate What You Can
Some mixed-material items can be partially recycled if you take them apart:
- Refrigerated dough containers: Remove the metal ends and recycle them. The foil-lined paper tube, unfortunately, goes in the trash.
- Peanut cans: If the metal base comes off, recycle it. The foil-lined sides and plastic lid are not recyclable.
3. Stay Informed
Check out your local recycling guidelines (or use the simple BINfluencer search tool!) to learn what’s accepted in the Sioux Falls area and surrounding community. The rules can vary depending on where you live.
Why It Matters
Mixed-material packaging is everywhere, but making small changes can have a big impact. By choosing recyclable packaging and properly sorting your waste, you’re helping reduce contamination, improve recycling efficiency, and keep more materials out of the landfill.
