Clutha Council relies on tetra pack recycling scheme to create construction material

New Zealand’s Clutha District Council has introduced a trial to recycle tetra pack cartoons accumulated in the area to convert them into building materials for the construction sector. A tetra pack is formed with layers of cardboard, plastic and aluminium, which means the recycling drive might yield enigmatic results for the district.

Tetra packs are usually applied in the beverage or food packaging industry, primarily focusing on liquid supplies. Though their construct is an amalgamation of paper, plastic and aluminium, recycling a tetra pack is more complicated than it seems. Most of the time, recycling tetra pack requires initial sorting, separation and peeling before being put through the recycling process to extract the individual materials.

They are also known as liquid paper board cartoons, but the use of aluminium in a tetra pack has a different role altogether. The inner side of a tetra pack has a thin aluminium layer since it doesn’t have any smell of its own, which keeps the material inside safe and odour free for a long, extending the shelf life of a product.

But the sorting and separating process of aluminium from paper or plastic is exceptionally cost-effective and rare. Only big brands with a lot to invest can afford the technology, which means most of the aluminium packaging solutions end up in landfills.

This is where Clutha District Council has revolutionised the entire method, as the board is not interested in sorting the tetra packs; instead, they wish to recycle the whole product into a plasterboard substitute that can be readily used in construction.

The waste minimisation officer, Laura Gourley, illustrated that this noble programme could be beneficial in diverting these tough-to-dissolve products from the waste dumping grounds. She was optimistic that this would build a circular economy in New Zealand, generating low-carbon items that can move around in the local supply loop, ultimately eradicating hazardous waste materials.

The people of the region have been requested to drop their used cartons or tetra packs at the Mt Cooee Landfill and at three Balclutha businesses – Cafe 55, the Gate, and Le Bocal​.

The residents would have to clean the insides and cut the packaging material to give it a flat shape and, finally, throw them at the mentioned drop-off points rather than the yellow-lidded wheelie bins placed all around the district.

The trial would be scrutinised in November 2023, giving it a full year to complete its cycle. By that time, the council hopes to find credible results for their recycling habit.