HPDE milk jug recycling focus of California campaign

The Tracy, California-based California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has launched a campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the recyclability of milk jugs made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. The “Recycle the Jug” campaign is designed to “drive sustainable behavior change across the state by addressing misconceptions to ensure plastic milk jugs make it into the recycling stream,” the CMAB says.

A 2021 study conducted by a dairy industry coalition showed that while 70 percent of California consumers said recyclability is important to them, nearly half (47 percent) found the milk jug “difficult to recycle,” and 32 percent of those consumers reported they did not trust it will actually be recycled, the CMAB says.

Securing adequate supplies of recycled-content HDPE are poised to become more important in California, where a bill signed into law by California’s governor last year has set targets on the use of recycled content in packaging.

“California consumers are dedicated to doing their part to recycle, but many don't understand that the HDPE used for plastic milk jugs is one of the most widely accepted plastics in recycling programs across the United States,” says John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB. “It’s highly desirable by recyclers because of its value and ability to be turned into new materials. We want to encourage consumers who buy milk in the jug to make sure that jug makes it to the recycling bin to help keep plastic out of landfills.”

CMAB says it will work with the dairy, retail and recycling industries to have the Recycle the Jug campaign encourage consumers to take three steps to recycle their plastic milk jugs: “Pour it. Cap it. Bin it.”

“HDPE is a valuable resource for recyclers because it can go into a variety of materials, from plastic lumber to packaging for products like milk,” says Tim Dewey-Mattia of Napa, California-based Napa Recycling & Waste Services. “Because natural HDPE doesn’t have color added, recyclers can add any type of ink or color when reused. Milk jugs are easy to recognize and sort at recycling centers, so consumers can have confidence that their milk jug will actually be recycled. And that reduces the use of virgin materials, saves energy and saves money for both consumers and recycling companies.”

A new Recylethejug.com website has been created in collaboration with the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) to provide information on the recycling of milk jugs and other containers. 

Yin Woon Rani, CEO of MilkPEP, says, “Dairy processors are constantly exploring ways to provide milk in the most convenient, sustainable packaging – using more recycled HDPE is one example. More recycled content means lower costs for packaging manufacturers and that’s what this campaign encourages. The more consumers put their milk jugs into the recycling bin, the more responsibly made packaging we can make, and that’s something consumers can feel good about.”

The CMAB, which has ties to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farms.