Aldi introduces beverage carton recycling

Since the new sorting plant was commissioned by Müller Recycling AG in Frauenfeld at the beginning of the year, it has been possible to cleanly separate beverage cartons and plastic bottles. This has meant that beverage cartons and plastic bottles can be collected together.

Aldi Suisse has now become the first retailer to establish the new collection: Since August 2016, ALDI SUISSE has been collecting beverage cartons together with plastic bottles - initially in the 65 stores of the Schwarzenbach branch. The nationwide introduction of the return of beverage cartons and plastic bottles is to be completed by the end of 2017.

Joint collection simplifies the disposal process

The empty beverage cartons of milk, iced tea, and fruit juices and the empty plastic bottles of dairy products, shower gels, detergents, and cleaning agents are collected together in a collection container and taken back to the logistics center by the trucks that deliver goods to the store. In this way, there are no extra trips. At the logistics center, they are compressed and taken to the sorting plant in Frauenfeld.

After sorting, the collected plastic bottles are processed into regranulate on site. This is used to manufacture new plastic bottles or other plastic products. The beverage cartons are pressed into bales and transported to the Model AG paper mill. The cartonboard fibers obtained via the recycling system can be used six to seven times in cartonboard production. Model AG uses the valuable cartonboard fibers to produce corrugated board for new packaging.