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Go Green! Serve Milk in Recyclable, Plastic Bottles

Recycling is another excellent reason to get the New Look of School Milk. School nutrition professionals can take a leadership role in protecting the environment by serving milk in plastic bottles and recycling them.

It's far easier to recycle plastic bottles than paperboard milk cartons as there are a limited number of facilities capable of handling the polycoated cartons. Recycling plastic bottles can be the one item that can create the "critical mass" needed to have a recycling company work with your district at little or no cost. Since schools pay for trash disposal by the cubic yard, this could lower a district's waste-hauling costs.

According to National Dairy Council® pilot tests^2,3, recycling plastic milk bottles could reduce trash volume between 9 percent and 20 percent. Recycling a ton of plastic bottles saves the equivalent of 3.8 barrels of oil.³ It helps our environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving landfill space. Plus, it teaches students social responsibility and respect for the environment.

The Benefits of Recycling Plastic Milk Bottles

Read about all the benefits of recycling New Look of School Milk plastic bottles and how to get the most from recycling.

Comparing Paperboard Milk Cartons Versus Plastic Bottles Recycling

Here you will find a side-by-side comparison detailing the recycling of paperboard milk cartons and plastic containers.

How to Recycle School Assessment Guide

This is an excellent tool for evaluating your current recycling program and learning the steps to take to become a recycler. Your local Dairy Council® can assist you with recycling. Contact them today.

Recycling with the New Look of School Milk Success Stories

Many schools that are serving the New Look of School Milk are recycling the plastic bottles and helping to sustain the environment. Read about their successes.

Recycling FAQ's

Here are answers to questions that often arise when recycling plastic milk bottles. Use the Recycling FAQ's, as a reference or print out the pdf as a fact sheet or leave behind in a presentation.

Going, Going...Green! With Recyclable Plastic Milk Bottles

Looking for a quick read on the recycling of plastic bottles in school nutrition programs. Download this Going, Going...Green! With Recyclable Plastic Milk Bottles handout and distribute it to stakeholders making decisions on recycling.

Order New Look of School Milk Recycling Bins!

Place your order for the ultimate recycling bin. Designed for the New Look of School Milk, these Drink It Then Sink It! bins feature bright, eye-catching graphics that encourage milk consumption and recycling.

References:

1. School Recycling Pilot Test conducted by Container Recycling Services on behalf of National Dairy Council®. August 2005.
2. Knox County School District Plastics Recycling Pilot Test, (Knoxville, Tenn.), conducted by National Dairy Council®, November, 2006
3. Killinger, Jennifer. "Information Sheet." American Chemistry Council. March 2007 http://americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/sec_content.asp?CID-1102&DID-5007