The Food and Beverage Carton recycling initiative has seen great engagement from the Clutha District to date.
People are now able to recycle their food and beverage cartons, commonly referred to as Tetra Pak, which are often used to package soy milk, juice and liquid stock. This packaging is a composite of cardboard, plastic and aluminium which has previously been sent to landfill.
The initiative will divert these products from the waste stream and see them sent to Hamilton where they’ll be recycled into a plasterboard substitute that can be used in construction.
The first compressed bale of upcycled food and beverage cartons from the Clutha District has now been created, after a trial which began in early 2023 and has seen over 8,000 food and beverage cartons received at public drop-off points located throughout the district.
The cartons were collected, baled, and then sent to saveBOARD in Hamilton, a sustainable recycling and upcycling company that takes food and beverage cartons from across New Zealand and uses compression and heat to turn the product into wall board. This initiative has so far meant a staggering 300+ kg of high value product package was saved from the landfill.
Schools and businesses are welcome to participate in the trial by providing a collection point for their community. Increasing the scope of the scheme is a key goal for Clutha District Council, striving towards removing food and beverage cartons packaging from our landfill. Any local businesses, schools or community groups wanting to contribute to the initiative or offer their store as a drop off point in the Clutha District can reach out to council by email or phone.
To participate in the initiative and contribute to reducing waste in the Clutha District, clean cartons can be dropped off for collection at one of the collection points listed below.
Together we can remove these cartons from the waste stream recycling them into low carbon building products.
Collection points
- Mt Cooee Landfill, Balclutha
- Health 2000, Balclutha
- Café 55, Balclutha
- Tokomairiro Community
Hub, Milton
- Tahatika Coffee Traders, Owaka
- The Lost Gypsy Gallery, Papatowai
- Lawrence Community Library
- Tapanui Community Library
