Hey Mr. Green,

What is the best way to dispose of half-gallon milk cartons? I’ve been told to recycle them as paper, in the plastic bin, and also that they are not recyclable. When I tried to research the topic online, the results were just as confusing. Can you provide some clarity? 

—Gregory in New York City

The answer depends on where you live and what your local recycling policies are. As is so often the case, there are huge variations among towns and cities. The only way to find out for sure is to visit your local recycler’s website or call your recycler, ask about the milk carton policy, and hope for a comprehensible reply. 

My local recycler, for example, says to put paper milk and juice cartons in the “green organics bin,” but to exile “aseptic packages that include plastic or foil” to the gray refuse bins, whose contents land in the dump. In addition, the recycling experts at Earth911.com tell us that if local recycling of cartons is allowed in your area, you should do the following:

* Remove lids, straws, or other stuff that came with the packaging.

* Recycle only empty cartons, and if odor is a problem, rinse them.

* Flatten cartons to save space.

* If you have doubts about what the container is made of, keep it out of the recycling mix instead of contaminating the recycling stream.