The city of Woodland’s Environmental Services team is pleased to announce that the curbside recycling program now accepts cartons. This exciting change aligns with the city’s commitment to sustainability, aiming to boost recycling rates and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.

According to a press release, Woodland residents and businesses are encouraged to place clean and dry cartons with their lids on in their recycling carts and bins.

Cartons, such as aseptic and gable-top (with a triangular, peaked top, commonly used for milk) varieties, are a popular packaging option for liquids like juices, milk, soups, and broths. However, these materials have historically been challenging to recycle due to their multi-layered composition of plastic, paper, and aluminum (in aseptic cartons). Of the approximately 70,000 tons of cartons discarded annually in California, only 20% are recycled.

Thanks to advancements in paper recycling markets and innovative processing technology, cartons are now a sought-after feedstock for various industries.

WM’s 29 million dollar upgrade to the Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station, where Woodland’s recyclables are sorted and processed, allows the facility to capture and process a greater percentage of recyclables.

These materials can be repurposed into products like tissue paper, paper towels, and even building materials, many of which will be manufactured right here in Northern California.

For more information about this program or other recycling initiatives, please email recycle@cityofwoodland.gov.