Food and beverage cartons / Mad- og drikkekartoner
See the most important Danish waste categories and how correct sorting helps materials move on to recycling.
Click a waste category to read more about it.
In short
Food and beverage cartons are packaging for milk, yoghurt, juice, soup, chopped tomatoes and beans. They consist of several material layers and therefore have their own sorting category.
Common mistakes
- Cartons should be emptied, but usually do not need to be thoroughly washed.
- Cardboard boxes, egg cartons and ordinary cardboard packaging are cardboard, not food and beverage cartons.
- Very dirty cartons with larger food residue can reduce recycling quality.
- Caps and plastic parts should follow local municipal instructions.
Empty or dirty?
Empty cartons can be recycled
Milk, yoghurt, juice, soup and tomato cartons can usually be sorted as food and beverage cartons when empty.
Large food residue must be removed
Cartons with larger amounts of food or liquid should be emptied first. If packaging is very dirty or mouldy, it may belong in residual waste in some municipalities.
Check local rules
Danish municipalities may have different rules for caps, rinsing, flattening and whether food and beverage cartons are collected with plastic or metal. Find your municipality.
Food and beverage cartons
Food and beverage cartons are used for products such as milk, yoghurt, juice, soup and chopped tomatoes. They often consist of several layers, including cardboard, plastic and sometimes aluminium.
Why they have their own category
Because cartons are made from mixed materials, they should not be sorted as ordinary cardboard or paper. When collected separately, specialised recycling facilities can separate the materials and recover the paper fibres and other components more effectively.
FAQ about food and beverage cartons
Are milk cartons cardboard?+
No. Milk cartons usually consist of several materials, including cardboard and plastic, and should be sorted as food and beverage cartons.
Do cartons need to be rinsed?+
Usually no. They should be emptied and scraped free from larger food residue, but they do not need to be washed thoroughly.
Can the cap stay on?+
It depends on the municipality. In some places the cap can stay on, while others recommend sorting it separately as plastic.
Are egg cartons food and beverage cartons?+
No. Egg cartons are normally cardboard or paper depending on the material and local scheme.
Why do cartons have their own fraction?+
Because they often consist of several layers, such as cardboard, plastic and sometimes aluminium. Separate sorting makes the materials easier to recycle.
Waste items sorted as food and beverage cartons / Mad- og drikkekartoner
A38 carton
Carton box
Carton screw cap
Chickpea carton
Chocolate milk carton
Chopped tomato carton
Cream carton
Drink carton
Juice carton
Juice carton box
Juice drink carton
Milk
Milk carton
Milk carton cap
Vegetable carton
Yoghurt carton