Yes, most egg cartons are recyclable, depending on the material they are made of.
How to Recycle Paper and Plastic Egg Cartons
Recycling paper and plastic egg cartons is fairly easy because those are the most widely accepted materials. Pulp paper egg cartons are often made from recycled materials and can be recycled again. They are also biodegradable and compostable. Most paper egg cartons can be placed in your recycling bin just like any other paper product. As long as they have the universal recycling symbol on the packaging, they can be broken down, mashed into a pulp, and turned into another form of paper product.
There are, however, some egg cartons that cannot be recycled precisely because their fibers have been broken down so much. And some recycling facilities are not able to process egg cartons at all. Although nowadays these are more of an exception, be sure to double-check with your local curbside service and look for the recycling symbol on the cartons before putting them in the recycling bin — and don't forget that you can always add them to your compost.
This is the most common method for recycling egg cartons. If there's any doubt as to whether or not your carton is eligible, check the underside of the packaging to confirm it falls into one of the categories (#1 for plastics). The recycling symbol should be clearly stamped on the carton.
Some locally owned grocery stores, co-ops, farms, and egg retailers participate in take back collections in which egg cartons can be brought in for recycling or reuse. This can be a huge cost-saver for many farmers, not to mention a good way to keep cartons out of trash cans and landfills.
Polystyrene foam, or Styrofoam, is a widely used material that works well for the transport and handling of food and fragile items — like eggs. Unfortunately, Styrofoam is made from petroleum-based polystyrene, or plastic #6. Although the material is technically recyclable, the service is not often offered because the process is expensive and the market for the material is too small. In a landfill, Styrofoam will take at least 500 years to biodegrade, if ever.
When it comes to choosing eggs, it’s best to opt for cartons made from paper or plastic from the start. Both of those options allow for composting or recycling once you're done with them. Or even better, limit the supply of surplus egg cartons by buying eggs from a nearby community farm instead of a chain grocery store. In addition to supporting local agriculture, they often allow you to bring back your cartons for the next dozen. Some companies are even opting for reusable egg cartons, which customers can bring to the point of sale, refill from a loose egg display, and take home.
Egg cartons are made from paperboard, which is a high-carbon material that can be used with your "browns" in composting (along with leaves, wood chips, and dry grass). Simply tear the egg cartons into smaller pieces, add them to your compost, cover them with some "greens" (like coffee grounds and vegetable and fruit trimmings), and carry on with your normal composting method.
If you find yourself with a growing pile of cartons, don't toss them aside just yet. Instead, clean and save your empties. These containers are well-built and long-lasting, so you can put them to use for household storage, crafts, and organizational projects. If you're stuck for ideas, here are some simple suggestions to reuse egg cartons:
- Craft projects
- Paint palettes
- Science projects
- Transport food
- Play areas/toys for small pets
- Jewelry holders
- Drawer organizers
- Seed starters for plants
- Storage for holiday lights/decorations
- Sewing supply holders
- Fire starters
- Birdseed holders
- Packaging
- Shipping materials
- Hardware organizers
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