University Café Albany barista Joana Gudoy (right) shows the type of cartons that can be recycled in the bin, while University Union Operations Manager Martin Jones (left) shows how the cartons should look before being put in the bin.
Otago can now recycle Tetra Pak-style drink and food cartons and invites staff, students, and the wider North Dunedin community to take advantage of this relatively rare option.
University Union Operations Manager Martin Jones says the Link recycling facility is one of only five in Dunedin.
"These containers, often used for milk, juices, and milk alternatives, are more difficult and costly to recycle because of their combination of paper, plastic, and aluminium.
“That’s why it makes sense to invite our wider community to use our recycling option.”
It is already being used by University cafés and college kitchens, which use many cartons.
All people need to do to recycle their cartons in The Link is clean, dry, cut, and flatten them, he says. A video about how to do that is here.
Sustainability Office Head Dr Ray O’Brien says the new recycling option is thanks to Martin and his team’s initiative and commitment to finding a solution.
The cartons go to saveBOARD near Hamilton, who use heat and compression to turn cartons into low carbon boards for construction.
Each board is made from about 400 drink and food cartons and 1000 pieces of plastic, diverting 25 kilograms of waste from landfill on average.
Most boards are 99 per cent shredded and compressed composite packaging and soft plastic., No glues, water, or additives are ūsed in the manufacturing process.
In another recycling option, end-of-life boards and off-cuts can also be cut into strips and returned to be turned into new boards.
saveBOARDS can be used for a variety of purposes from ceiling tiles to wall linings, joinery and more.
The type of carton that can now be recycled in The Link (rear), the way it should look before being recycled (right) and two pieces of board made from recycled cartons.