Egg Cartons (Plastic) Trash Container While some #1 PETE, such as bottles and jars are accepted for recycling in Burbank, other items marked similarly, such as plastic egg cartons are not. These containers, are known as “thermoforms”, which are much more complicated for our operations. According to The Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), the nation’s leading plastics recycling group, thermoforms cannot be recycled the same way as #1 rigid plastics (bottles) because they must be heated at a different temperature. These materials must be recycled by themselves, which is difficult from a logistics, equipment capabilities, and economics reality. Cartons Are Plastic #1 Plastic egg cartons are made from Plastic #1 (PET). Find out how to dispose of Plastic #1. Ways to Reduce Choose Paper Instead Paper cartons, which biodegrade easily, are a more eco-friendly packaging choice than plastic. Plastic #1 can be recycled, but only for a limited number of times, and it does not biodegrade. Ways to Reuse Get Organized Use your empty egg cartons as organizers for garage items such as nuts, bolts and screws, or craft items such as buttons, threads, beads and pastels. Start Seedlings Poke holes in the bottom of each egg compartment so that they can drain, and use the container as a seed starter.
