What It Becomes

Give your waste a second chance

It’s true – when it comes to waste, there is an afterlife. Reducing the amount of garbage you produce and finding new uses for old items is important – but at the end of the day we all create waste packaging that can enjoy a second life as new products. 
 
Click here to see what becomes what. Move your mouse over the picture of the items to learn more about the future of your blue bin contributions: 
 
  • Aseptic packaging (e.g., Tetra Pak cartons) like juice, broth and wine boxes, and gable-top containers like milk and juice cartons, come back as paper towels, paper trays, cardboard and tissues.

  • High-density plastics used to make containers like laundry and household cleaning bottles come back as many new products, including picnic tables, deck chairs, fencing, pipe, flower pots, watering cans – and even recycling bins.

  • Old newspapers come back as fresh newsprint, as well as boxboard, wallboard, egg cartons, insulation and bedding trays.

  • Fine household paper like letters and envelopes can come back as white paper towels.

  • Boxboard (e.g., cereal, tissue and detergent boxes) is primarily recycled into new boxboard products.

  • Corrugated cardboard boxes are recycled into new boxes, biodegradable garden supplies, wall board liner, kraft paper, brown paper toweling and gift wrap.

  • Aluminum cans be recycled repeatedly – and most of the empties are typically melted, re-cast and re-filled within 60 days. Recycling aluminum uses a tiny fraction of the energy it takes to refine ore from scratch – and aluminum can be used in everything from CDs to passenger jets.

  • Steel cans come back as new steel cans, but also as structural steel, chains, pipes and car parts.
  • Lightweight PET plastic is recycled into all kinds of new products, including polar fleece, carpet, rope, brush bristles, car bumpers and household furnishings.