Can You Recycle Goldfish Cartons? (Find Out Now!)

Goldfish crackers are a popular snack, especially if you have kids at home. You may consider buying large-scale cartons if you go through a lot of Goldfish cracker packages,

Purchasing in bulk or larger portions seems more environmentally friendly, single-serving or small containers. Are these products more recyclable than plastic individual-sized Goldfish cracker bags?

Only specific facilities can recycle Goldfish crackers packaged in boxes or milk carton-like containers. Goldfish cracker packages are made from different paper layers glued together. Most city recycling centers can’t breakdown and reuse the glued material. Check with your local recycling program first, but most likely you need to throw the carton in the garbage bin.

These lightweight containers have exteriors made from multiple coats of paper board, plastic, and aluminum. Aseptic cartons have been around since the 1950s. They were primarily used for milk cartons in countries without refrigerated shipping. The rectangular shape also makes aseptic cartons beneficial for packing and transport.

Aseptic cartons are more challenging to recycle because of how they are made. Essentially, they are layers of material that have been glued together. The glue makes recycling challenging because it contaminates the paper. Glue is challenging to remove from the paper.

However, aseptic carton recycling does exist. Some countries, like Mexico and Brazil, have found ways to turn them into reusable materials.

Goldfish crackers are packaged in different ways. The most common is a bag made of different components. The outer paper shell can be recycled, but the inner foil-lined bag is not recyclable.

Another option is the resealable stand-up bags. These are not recyclable due to the plastic used to maintain product freshness.

Sometimes the crackers are packaged into boxes or milk carton-like structures. These can only be recycled where facilities exist. They are made of layers that cannot be separated at traditional facilities.

Your goldfish carton will have a recycling symbol somewhere near the back or on the bottom of the container.

Plastic recycling symbols typically have a number inside of the triangle icon. For instance, a “1” refers to PET, a common plastic used in single-use bottled beverages. The number “4” refers to LDPE, a flexible plastic with many applications.

Cardboard materials carry three types of recycling codes. Cardboard Paper reads “PAP-20,” Mixed Paper is “PAP-21,” and Plain paper is “PAP-22.”

Related Questions

Are Goldfish bags compostable?

Goldfish bags are not recyclable or compostable. The inner foil lining used to retain freshness will not break down. It could be possible to strip away the outer paper lining for recycling or compost.

Can I recycle food cartons?

Food cartons are manufactured from a wide range of materials. Refer to the recycling symbol on the carton. Find your local recycling program regulations to see if it will accept that material. If it is recyclable, thoroughly clean out the food carton before putting it in the bin.