Can you recycle milk & juice cartons?

Both refrigerated milk/juice cartons (gable-top) and shelf-stable boxes (aseptic “Tetra Pak” broth, soup, and juice) are accepted in curbside recycling in most LA County programs. Empty and rinse them and put them in the blue cart. As always, confirm with your hauler if you're unsure.

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How to prep them

Empty out any liquid and give the carton a quick rinse. Push plastic caps and straws separately — many programs want the cap off (it's a different plastic); when in doubt, recycle the carton and trash the tiny straw. Flatten to save space if you like.

Refrigerated vs shelf-stable

Gable-top cartons (milk, juice, cream) and aseptic cartons (broth, plant milk, juice boxes) are both recycled through the Carton Council in California — most curbside programs take both.

If your program doesn't

A small number of programs still exclude cartons. If yours does, trash them — but in most of LA County they're a blue-cart item.

Milk & Juice Cartons — quick FAQ

Are milk cartons recyclable?

Yes — in most LA County curbside programs, empty and rinsed milk and juice cartons go in the blue recycling cart. Confirm with your hauler if unsure.

Can you recycle juice boxes and Tetra Pak cartons?

Yes — shelf-stable aseptic cartons (juice boxes, broth, plant milk) are accepted alongside refrigerated cartons in most California carton-recycling programs.

Do I need to remove the cap and straw?

Rinse the carton and take the plastic cap or straw off — the cap is a different plastic. Recycle the carton; the tiny straw is trash.

Should I flatten cartons before recycling?

It's optional — flattening saves space in your cart. Just empty and rinse them first.

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