Tips and recycling centres
How to recycle food and drink cartons
Milk, juice and soup cartons can be recycled. Rinse them and leave the plastic tops and straws in.
Cartons
Drink cartons for juice, smoothies and milk, and food cartons for soup, tomatoes and pulses.
Pouches
Baby food, pet food and detergent pouches can go to soft plastic points at selected shops.
Tops and straws are removed for you
Recycle Now says plastic tops and straws left in cartons are taken out and recycled during processing.
Key facts
- Binmap lists 109 places that say they take food and drink cartons, including 90 tips.
- Another 430 places may take food and drink cartons, but they do not say so. Check before you go.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Written by Binmap using guidance from Recycle Now.
Advice from national bodies
What to do
- Rinse food and drink cartons.
- Leave plastic tops and straws in place.
Kinds of place that take it
- Local recycling sites
- Recycling centres
Guides for similar items
Other kinds of place
Schemes and collection services
Binmap is independent and is not run by any council.