Cartons for food, drink and other liquids sold across the UK will carry the OPRL’s green ‘Recycle’ label from April 2026 to highlight their suitability for household collections.
Representatives for the carton packaging sector said that the upcoming change in recycling guidance on labels carried on chilled and aseptic products demonstrated ongoing efforts to build capabilities and capacity to collect and recycle the materials.
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK told MRW that the OPRL amendments, for the first time, would designate that all liquid cartons could now be considered recyclable from household collections. It noted that the liquid cartons term included goods recognised as using fibre-based composite materials under guidance for the UK extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) regime.
The OPRL, which oversees the current system for on-pack recycling labels, said the changes would be implemented alongside the introduction of simpler recycling reforms for household collections from next April to advise on how to effectively dispose of the packaging.
ACE UK described the announcement as a “major milestone” that was the result of investment and work with the waste and recycling sector to scale-up national capacity for carton recycling from UK households.
It claimed that kerbside collection of waste cartons were currently accepted in 69% of local authority areas.
The requirements for a packaging type to qualify for carrying the OPRL Recycle’ label is for 75% to be providing collections. This figure was expected to be met from next year, ACE UK added.
A spokesperson for the association said that its members, which includes packaging groups such as Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Combibloc, has been working with authorities to support the collection of liquid cartons over a number of years.
The association said it would also continue to work with councils to give advice on practical issues on accepting cartons, along with making them aware of the rebates available for sorting cartons.
ACE UK said that an estimated 361 councils in the UK now offered kerb-side collections ahead of wider regulatory changes.
It stated: “In addition, a lot of progress has been made on the back of industry investment into sorting infrastructure in key MRFs. Some notable recent examples include industry investment into AI-power sorting technology developed by Recycleye, which was adopted by Cumbria Waste Group.
“This mirrored an earlier investment into new robotic sorting technology at the J&B Recycling facility in Hartlepool. Both of these investments have encouraged local authorities to switch to a kerbside collection. In total the industry has made four major investments in sorting technology in the UK and Ireland, with a fifth planned in the near future.”
Research published by the OPRL in June surveyed over 5,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales about the impact of the on-pack system for recycling notifications. It concluded that 81% recognised the labels it used.
Of the respondents to the study, 89% said they used the labels to inform their decision on materials suitable for household recycling.
Under the current OPRL system, liquid cartons currently use a label advising that householders either take cartons to a recycling point, or check with their authority on what materials are collected for recycling.
This was expected to change from next April with cartons being defined as suitable for home recycling, albeit with the ‘cap on’ the package.
Customers will also be advised for smaller cartons to ensure they insert a straw provided with the pack for disposal.
ACE UK external affairs head Ben Powell said that the announcement of cartons carrying the recycle label would simplify advice on disposal.
The association said it had introduced a campaign focused on preparing for changing requirements for household collections as part of simpler recycling reforms in England
Powell added: “Through our Carton Ready Campaign, ACE UK is working with local councils to assist with the transition to kerbside collection. Through our research and ongoing relationships with councils, we were able to demonstrate to OPRL that kerbside collections from households are on course to exceed the 75% threshold by April at the latest.”
“This is supported by the fact that the number of councils collecting at kerbside has grown from 66% to 69% in the past few months alone, this is progress that we are proud to be part of and demonstrates the success of the Simpler Recycling reforms.”
ACE UK said it was also seeking to work with a wider numbers of authorities on providing kerbside collections.