How can I reuse or recycle … mixed materials baby milk containers?

baby milk powder containerWe’ve had an email from “nannaspoon”:

Can I recycle the boxes that baby powered milk comes in? Cow & Gate comes in a laminated cardboard outer case, plastic lid and silver-foil covering on the inside of the box which is non-detachable. What should I put it in with – cardboard, plastic or foil?

Oooh, that’s a good question: I suspect if you can pull the lid off – and it’s a type of plastic covered by your recycling people – then that’s ok to be thrown in with plastics but does anyone know what the deal is with foil-lined cardboard?

Cow and Gate claims this new packaging is better for the environment that their old tins and they “use recycled materials wherever possible” – but they’ve not got back to me about how the tubs can be recycled post-consumer. (UPDATE: they have done now. Their response is in the comments.)

Any ideas for reuses?

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10 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … mixed materials baby milk containers?”


  1. Socks says:

    Sounds like Tetrapak to me. Can be recycled by posting it to Scotland if the local authority don’t collect it.

    http://www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk/

  2. louisa says:

    A response from Cow & Gate just arrived:

    The lids of the eazypack are fine to recycle with all other plastic but the
    main body of the pack needs to be recycled by a specialist.

    There is a company you can get in touch with who will be able to tell you of
    any schemes in your area, The address and website is below: –

    The Liquid food carton manufacturers association,
    Churcham house,
    1 Bridgeman road,
    Teddington,
    TW11 9AJ

    http://www.drinkscartons.com/docs/recycling_uk.htm

  3. glitterpixie says:

    i know the sort of thing you mean, some hot chocolate powders and things come in similar packaging.

    they make great pin-hole camera! just spray paint the inside black and you’ve got a light-tight device!

    maybe your local school/community centre/gallery would want them?

  4. Jane says:

    Presumably these minus the lids can now go in the liquid food carton /tetrapak/beverage cartons etc bank that many local authorities and supermarkets now have.

  5. Olia says:

    Use them for dirty diaper disposal.

  6. Uluska says:

    Keep on a kitchen counter for kitchen scraps.

  7. Uluska says:

    Plant herbs in them.

  8. Olia says:

    Keep baby’s small toys in it.

  9. Along the Way says:

    Store dry milk in them.

  10. Katie says:

    I was just wondering this. I think baby food companies should make everything recyclable. Even putting it in a plastic container is better as these can be recycled. You think of the thousands of babies that are born daily and many use formula, that’s a lot of waste. They should be doing more. I bought another brand a few weeks back which isn’t as popular but this was in a cardboard box with foil packaging inside. This was much more recyclable. It’s all marketing now and brands and environment last.



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