Is Frozen Food Packaging Recyclable?

In today’s fast-paced world, frozen food packaging is everywhere. Whether you primarily eat pizza or vegetables, you have encountered this type of packaging while shopping. But can it be recycled?

Well, that’s what we are going to talk about today.

What is frozen food packaging made of?

Frozen food packaging is usually made of cardboard, paper board, laminated paper, tin cans, and/or plastic materials.

Are frozen food bags recyclable?

Most frozen food bags aren’t recyclable – this is because they are made of several layers of material. However, this design choice is what protects the contents of these bags and keeps them from spilling out.

Keep in mind that it’s still advisable to confirm with your local recycling facility before giving up and tossing your food bags in the trash.

Can frozen vegetable packaging be recycled?

While many vegetable brands are still using non-recyclable packaging, some have moved to recyclable options. A good example is Birds Eye – as of 2021 it had started using recyclable materials to manufacture its resealable vegetable packaging.

As such, you can easily recycle this packaging in many big supermarkets.

Are Eggo waffle boxes recyclable?

Yes, Egg waffle boxes can be recycled. These boxes can be recycled with other cardboard boxes and materials using your curbside recycling program.

However, the liners can only be recycled at store drop centers.

Are black plastic meat trays recyclable?

While black plastic meat trays can be recycled, they usually aren’t and end up in landfill, even when you send them to the right recycling facility.

This is because the dye used in these trays isn’t usually detectable by sorting machines at recycling plants. As such, these machines fail to sort them appropriately and end up tossing them out as leftovers.

However, plastic meat trays made of other colors can easily get sorted and ultimately recycled – after all, they are made of expanded polystyrene.  To get them to that point though, you have to look for a recycling facility that will accept them – they are not usually accepted by curbside programs.

This is partly because they pose the risk of causing food contamination. Fortunately, you can easily find a suitable and willing facility by using websites like Earth 911.

Are frozen dinner trays recyclable?

Most frozen dinner trays can be recycled – they are usually made of #1 plastic.

If your dinner tray is one of the few that are made of #3 or #7 plastic, you have no other choice but to toss it in the trash.

Why are frozen food boxes not recyclable?

While most frozen food boxes are made of cardboard, they are usually lined with a layer of plastic on the outside. This layer keeps them from breaking down in freezers, compost heaps, and even at recycling plants. This makes these boxes impossible to recycle and compost.

The few frozen food boxes that are made of compostable material will have a label indicating this.

Can you compost frozen pizza boxes?

While most frozen pizza boxes can’t be composted, a few can. Ultimately, the recyclability of frozen pizza boxes depends on what they’re made of.

Most of these boxes are made of paperboard that has been lined with plastic to prevent degradation, leaks, and freezer burns. This makes them impossible to recycle and compost.

However, there are a few which are coated with wax – some of which are compostable. These are the ones coated with beeswax or wax made from soybeans.

Is frozen food packaging safe?

Frozen food packaging is usually safe. These bags and containers are usually heavily regulated by authorities like the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of the standards frozen food packaging need to meet include:

• Ability to withstand temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit
• Ability to withstand high cooking temperatures if the container is usually used to cook its contents
• Appropriate strength and resistance to pressure, freezing, and chemical reaction with contents

Is the plastic in frozen dinners safe?

Yes, the plastic in frozen dinner trays is safe. Most times, they are made of #1 plastic – Polyethylene terephthalate. It is microwave-safe and doesn’t leach any chemicals into your food.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, it’s up to you to buy frozen food that is packaged in containers that are recyclable and/or compostable. While we would all like to live in a world where all our frozen food packaging is recyclable/compostable, we’re still not there yet. Hopefully, one day we will!