New Home for Tetra Pak Household Waste

Published: 15 December 2020

Residents will no longer be able to recycle Tetra Pak in their household collection bins in the Folkestone & Hythe and Dover districts from next month.

The material – most commonly used for long-life milk, fruit juices, soups and ice lollies cartons – is comprised of wood, aluminium and plastic, which are difficult to separate.

Across the country, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recycle Tetra Pak – and from 16 January, it should no longer be put in recycling bins as Kent County Council is having to stop processing the material.

Cartons should no longer be put in recycling bins, instead please put them with the rest of your non-recyclable household waste, allowing it to be used for generating electricity. It will not be sent to landfill.

Cllr Nicholas Kenton, DDC Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “It is disappointing that Tetra Pak cannot be collected with the recycling after 16 January. However, the situation may change in the future, and we will continue to work with our partners to look at this.”

Cllr Stuart Peall, F&HDC Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Regulatory Services, Waste & Building Control – added: “Unfortunately it’s very difficult to recycle Tetra Pak but this approach will ensure such packaging is still useful even when finished with.”

For more information, please see the district council waste page. For more information on waste collections over Christmas, please see the DDC website.