Are Egg Cartons Compostable?

Eggs are the favorite food items for every healthy family, and cartons of eggs are present in every home. The egg boxes consist of cardboard or plastic. As recycling waste is a great option, recycling companies collect these boxes for composting and recycling. Eggs are one of the most consumed foods all across the globe. Thus, their cartons are available in bulk quantities for recycling and composting purposes.

They consist of paperboard, cardboard, or other wood pulp or recycled paper which is beneficial for composting. These egg cartons are highly biodegradable and easy to compost providing nutrient-rich fertilizer to the soil. This article explores the process of composting egg cartons and the types of cartons suitable for composting purposes. So stay tuned!

Can you Compost Egg Cartons

Yes, certain types of egg cartons are compostable. There are different types of egg cartons, but paper and cardboard egg cartons are the most environmentally friendly options. These two types of cartons are made from paper pulp, so they are easily pressable and convertible into other well-organized and practical supplies. The paper pulp used to manufacture these cartons consists of natural materials such as wood and is biodegradable.

They provide carbon-rich nutrients to your compost pile which facilitates essential microorganisms. Composting these paper egg cartons is the easiest if you have a proper compost system. All you need to do is to add these cartons to your system and wait for composting. If you have a vermicompost system, the worms will compost easily after moistening. 

However, the addition should be in limited quantity and according to the required need. These paper cartons are rich in nitrogen and carbon and are brown materials. All these brown materials are best for biodegrading and composting.

The composting duration of these paper cartons depends on the weather you can provide, but generally, they 2 to 4 weeks to compost completely. There might be some plastic-lined stickers on these paper cartons, and you must remove any glues to speed up the process.

Are Plastic Egg Containers Recyclable

The egg cartons are manufactured from different types of plastics. Plastic egg containers are also recyclable, but this process mainly depends on your plastic type. You can easily recycle clear plastic cartons with other products. However, plastic egg cartons are not compostable material. Most clear plastic materials and other egg cartons are easily recyclable 6 to 7 times to decompose completely. 

These plastics are lightweight, visible, clear, and save energy. You can also throw them into the recycle bin and wait for their recycling. If you have an egg carton or a pile of egg cartons, you can ensure they are recyclable by checking the recycle symbol. Don’t worry if you can’t find any recyclable option on your carton, because plenty of options are available for using them.

Are Paper Egg Cartons Biodegradable

All the paper egg cartons are biodegradable, and all the ones you find in stores and supermarkets near you are biodegradable. Many recycling agencies are ready to take and compost these cartons for you. The composting of these cartons is easy, by adding moisture you can easily compost them. Avoid adding the used eggs back into the cartons, recycling will not occur if you do so.

 The food supplements left in the cartons will contaminate the food supply, making it unable to recycle the cartons. If you have dry cartons without any food residue, you can easily compost them, and they are perfectly biodegradable. These paper egg cartons are biodegradable compared to other Styrofoam and plastic ones. The main reason behind their biodegradable behavior is that paper cartons are perfectly pressed to give out the best-pressed form after recycling.

Are Cardboard Egg Cartons Recyclable

Cardboard egg cartons are also highly biodegradable as they contain old and recycled cardboard. Paper cartons and other cardboard variants are involved, making them highly recyclable. Cardboard egg cartons consist of recyclable material, and a large number of recycling facilities are well-equipped to recycle it. It would help if you processed these cartons into bins, and then you can recycle them easily. If you have a bulk of egg cartons at your place, check them with the local authorities and check their recycling option. Some recycling agencies might not consider the contaminated egg cartons.

How To Use Egg Cartons for Composting

It is important to note that all biodegradable materials, including egg shells, take different time durations to decompose. It depends on weather conditions, with an estimated time range between 2-4 weeks. This last section provides guidelines to ensure that your egg carton results exactly what you expect during composting. Here are the steps to be followed in using egg cartons for composting: 

1. Material Check

Before starting the process, ensure you have cardboard or paper egg cartons. Because other egg cartons made from plastics and styrofoam won’t compost.

2. Shred or Cut Cartons

If you want these cartons to decay fast enough, break them into smaller pieces. So, start the process by ripping or cutting the cartons in small sizes.

3. Check for Plastic-Lined Stickers

Make sure that the eggs do not have plastics on their labels because the glue used is questionable regarding composting.

4. Add to Compost Pile

Throw these small egg carton pieces directly into your compost pile or heap.  They are a brown material for your compost pile. This will aid in decomposing them faster if they are mixed with the existing compost material.

5. Crush for Quicker Decomposition

Break up this cardboard-like packaging material into smaller pieces for quicker decomposition. Crushing, e.g., cartons, also increases their surface area, thus providing a good environment for microbial activity while decomposing.

6. Provide Specific Conditions

First, ensure that your compost pile has a good balance of green-brown material, oxygen, and proper moisture. In addition, regularly turn this compost pile for proper aeration.

7. Consider Local Collection

Alternatively, check whether there is a bin in your community where you can put organic waste. Some areas have specialized bins for putting food remains that can be easily disposed of.

Types of Egg Cartons

There are three main types of egg cartons that you can easily find in the stores including;

1. Paperboard Egg Cartons

Paperboard egg cartons consist of wood pulp or other recyclable paper and have been available in stores since the 1980s. The paper and other cardboard blend water into a slurry, and the paper mix is pressed onto a mold. In this way, an egg carton comes into existence. 

2. Plastic Egg Carton

Another type of egg carton is the plastic egg carton. This is lightweight, clear plastic, also known as polyethylene terephthalate PET. The plastic heats and is pressed and then converted into the mold of carbon. These plastic egg cartons are recyclable and help reduce waste from the environment. When you recycle plastic, it takes up less energy than making a whole new plastic; due to this reason, you can call it biodegradable.

3. Styrofoam/Foam Egg Cartons

Small beads of polystyrene heat up and form egg cartons; they are poured into a mold to make them. There is Styrofoam in those cartons, and it is non-compostable and non-biodegradable. Some companies might use this Styrofoam to recycle. However, you will have to check those companies and see if they include and consider this foam for recycling. 

There is a difficulty in recycling Styrofoam cartons as they are non-biodegradable. So, it is better to shift to cardboard or paper egg cartons to become a part of the environmentally friendly project. Using non-biodegradable materials at home increases the environmental hazard.

Egg Cartons Comparison Chart

Conclusion

There are different types of egg cartons that you can easily find in the market along with eggs. Some cartons contain brown composting material, and others are non-biodegradable. You can easily compost cardboard and paper-made egg cartons. This article contains complete information about detecting and checking the material of your carton and the chances of its recyclability. In addition, the detailed process of egg carton composting is also explained. Thus by reading this article, you can make informed choices about the egg cartons you buy. In this way, you can help reduce waste and protect the environment.

FAQs

1. Are Egg Cartons Recyclable?

There are different types of egg cartons, some of which are recyclable. If you have plastic or paper egg cartons, you can use them for recycling. While some have foam or Styrofoam, these are non-recyclable. 

2. Are Styrofoam Egg Cartons Recyclable?

No, the Styrofoam egg cartons are not recyclable. You can only dispose of them by throwing them into the trash. They might get moistened and eaten by worms, but you cannot recycle them as they are non-biodegradable.

3. How Long Does it Take an Egg Carton to Compost?

Different weather conditions play an important role in deciding the time the egg carton takes to compost completely. The average time required by an egg carton to compost is 2 to 4 weeks. If there is a plastic line on these egg cartons, composting them might be difficult and take longer than the given time.

4. Is it Better to Recycle or Compost Egg Cartons?

It is better to find a compost system for these egg cartons. If you can’t, you can give them to different haulers on the street ready to take your compost egg cartons for recycling. This way, you can eliminate egg cartons, and there is no biological hazard to the environment.