Waste pickers collect unsegregated waste from our homes every day
They take the waste to the nearest municipal bin
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Recyclables are segregated and sold to waste dealers
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Tetra Pak cartons are further segregated at the waste dealer’s warehouse
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NGO partners buy these used cartons from waste dealers and bale them
Once a truckload of baled cartons is ready, it is sent to a recycling plant
Recyclables like Tetra Pak cartons should be segregated as dry waste to retain their high value, so as to incentivise waste pickers
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ENVIRONMENT
How do Tetra Pak cartons get recycled? What happens to the paper?
Paper 75% Aluminium 5%
Polyethylene 20%
Composition of a Tetra Pak carton
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The cartons are pulped to separate the fibre from the Poly Al in a hydra-pulper
The bales of cartons are unloaded at the recycling plant
(Poly Al: Polyethylene + Aluminium)
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The pulp is converted into paper and then dried
Various products are made using recycled paper recovered from Tetra Pak cartons
Recyclers find good value in Tetra Pak cartons because they contain high-strength virgin fibre
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ENVIRONMENT
How do Tetra Pak cartons get recycled? What happens to the Polyethylene & Aluminium (Poly Al)? 1
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The Poly Al is separately recovered from the hydra-pulper, then dried and later shredded
The shredded Poly Al is spread evenly over plates
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These plates are then placed in a hot-press and compressed at high temperature
The Poly Al is converted into flat sheets that can be converted into several useful products
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One such application is high-strength, durable and light-weight corrugated roofing sheets
Tetra Pak cartons are completely recyclable. Not just the paper, but the Poly Al as well.
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ENVIRONMENT Community initiatives
Project SEARCH: A joint programme with The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) to sensitise children about recycling for a cleaner habitat
Go Green programme: A joint initiative in Mumbai with retail chain Sahakari Bhandar and local environment group R U Recycling to sensitise shoppers on the recyclability of Tetra Pak cartons
Workshops with waste pickers: Educating them about the value of collecting used Tetra Pak cartons
iProtect: Tetra Pak employees volunteer to engage with communities on education, nutrition and environment programmes