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The below statement (bolded by me) about composite cans was added in 2021, between July and October, per the internet archive.
Richland County, SC - Recycling
I'm surprised they accept the composite cans now, as the cardboard part usually has a film of metal and/or plastic foil attached. I've been in the habit of separating the metal from the rest, and peeling the foil off the cardboard when possible.
For "cardboard cans", the Recycling Wizard says to "Please put metal and plastic lids in garbage."
Per the above guidelines, I suppose I'm doing a bad thing when I put paperboard boxes from refrigerated and frozen items in the recycling bin. But they are clean boxes; the food contents usually are in plastic bags inside the boxes. And the cardboard tears the same easily as non-refrigerated boxes. So I have a hard time convincing myself that there's any difference; they don't *seem* to have a plastic coating.
[Trying to convince myself...]
Per this video from a different jurisdiction: Why Aren't Frozen Food Boxes
Recyclable?, "Frozen food boxes are sprayed with a polycoat to protect from freezer burn."
It makes sense that the cardboard would be coated. If the coating is thin enough, it probably doesn't inhibit you from being able to tear it. But wait, what about refrigerated (non-frozen) boxes? Would they be coated too? You don't get freezer burn in the refrigerator. But I think many things sold in the refrigerated section are kept frozen in transit and storage. So, maybe.
Per that video, the reason why gable-top cartons are an exception and are accepted is because the manufacturers buy them back to recycle them themselves. I hadn't heard of that before. In that case, I'm doing a bad thing by tearing open the cartons to more easily rinse and flatten them. Doing that makes them less distinguishable from other flattened paperboard, for purposes of separating them out.
For gable-top cartons, our waste wizard says "Empty and open to air dry. Discard caps in garbage." So I suppose it's still ok to break open the top part for purposes of cleaning them and tearing off the part with the plastic spout. Although maybe even that is wrong, because doing that makes the cartons more crushable, and then they are less distinguishable again.
I wish the wizard and guidelines had way more details. (The wizard doesn't even clearly say that some items are recyclable even when the guidelines do; but that's a separate issue.)
TO DO: Next time I am discarding a frozen box, tear a piece off and soak it in water, and do the same with a piece torn off a cereal box for comparison.
Richland County, SC - Recycling
Cardboard, Chipboard, & Cereal Boxes
Corrugated cardboard is accepted for recycling - cut or fold so the cardboard fits into the roll cart. Flatten boxes and place them in your recycling roll cart. Spiral Wound Composite Cans (i.e. canned potato chips, nuts, raisins, coffee, etc.) are accepted for recycling. Wax or plastic coated cardboard is NOT accepted. Chipboard boxes such as cereal boxes must be clean and dry and only have stored dry, non-refrigerated foods. Pizza boxes are recyclable- the pizza is not! So make sure the pizza box is free of ALL food debris (and the extra cheese)
I'm surprised they accept the composite cans now, as the cardboard part usually has a film of metal and/or plastic foil attached. I've been in the habit of separating the metal from the rest, and peeling the foil off the cardboard when possible.
For "cardboard cans", the Recycling Wizard says to "Please put metal and plastic lids in garbage."
Per the above guidelines, I suppose I'm doing a bad thing when I put paperboard boxes from refrigerated and frozen items in the recycling bin. But they are clean boxes; the food contents usually are in plastic bags inside the boxes. And the cardboard tears the same easily as non-refrigerated boxes. So I have a hard time convincing myself that there's any difference; they don't *seem* to have a plastic coating.
[Trying to convince myself...]
Per this video from a different jurisdiction: Why Aren't Frozen Food Boxes
Recyclable?, "Frozen food boxes are sprayed with a polycoat to protect from freezer burn."
It makes sense that the cardboard would be coated. If the coating is thin enough, it probably doesn't inhibit you from being able to tear it. But wait, what about refrigerated (non-frozen) boxes? Would they be coated too? You don't get freezer burn in the refrigerator. But I think many things sold in the refrigerated section are kept frozen in transit and storage. So, maybe.
Per that video, the reason why gable-top cartons are an exception and are accepted is because the manufacturers buy them back to recycle them themselves. I hadn't heard of that before. In that case, I'm doing a bad thing by tearing open the cartons to more easily rinse and flatten them. Doing that makes them less distinguishable from other flattened paperboard, for purposes of separating them out.
For gable-top cartons, our waste wizard says "Empty and open to air dry. Discard caps in garbage." So I suppose it's still ok to break open the top part for purposes of cleaning them and tearing off the part with the plastic spout. Although maybe even that is wrong, because doing that makes the cartons more crushable, and then they are less distinguishable again.
I wish the wizard and guidelines had way more details. (The wizard doesn't even clearly say that some items are recyclable even when the guidelines do; but that's a separate issue.)
TO DO: Next time I am discarding a frozen box, tear a piece off and soak it in water, and do the same with a piece torn off a cereal box for comparison.