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Polycoat Milk Carton Recycling Information

The Polycoat Milk Carton Recycling Program is an industry initiative through which Alberta's dairy industry supports the voluntary collection and recycling of polycoat milk cartons. The program came into effect on January 1, 2002.

The Alberta Dairy Council contributes money into the Container Recovery Fund. This fund is used to administer and manage the program, including top-up funding, transportation supplements, a communication and education program, and the costs associated with the 'collection only' option for milk containers.

The Fund provides 'top-up' support payments to registered recycling authorities, i.e., registered municipalities or their designates, for collected and densified milk cartons shipped to market, up to a level of $225 per tonne. For example, if the current market price is $15 per tonne, the Fund will pay a top-up of $210. If the market price exceeds $225 a tonne, no top-up payment will be paid. If funding application forms for both jugs and cartons are submitted within 30 days of the end of any given quarter, a timely filing incentive of $100 per quarter is paid which is over and above any top-up funding amount.

In addition, registered Recycling Authorities in communities outside Edmonton and Calgary are eligible for a transportation supplement of $40 per tonne to help defray the costs of transporting the collected, baled cartons to market.

Markets for cardboard milk cartons include but may not be limited to:

In order to ship to these facilities, cartons must be baled. Partial loads of baled cartons may be shipped. Check with the facility to determine bale specifications prior to shipping.

Application for top-up funding is made quarterly to the Alberta Dairy Council with the first quarter covering the period from July 1 to September 30 in any given year. Funding application forms are provided, along with a registration number, upon receipt of the completed registration from.

In summary, to qualify for top-up funding, municipalities or their designate must:

• Register with the Alberta Dairy Council Milk Container Recycling Program
• Collect, bale and ship to market used milk cartons
• Sell the cartons to a legitimate recycler for fair market value
• Forward the completed funding application form, along with supporting documents to the Alberta Dairy Council within 30 days of the end of each quarter in which material is shipped to market.