LunaseeStudios / Shutterstock.com Milk & Juice Cartons Other Recycling LunaseeStudios / Shutterstock.com Milk and juice cartons are normally sprayed with a plastic coating on both sides, which makes it hard for the composting process to break down the paper. It is best recycled through paper pulping process which can extract the paper fiber. Learn more about this process here: Why aren’t coffee cups recyclable, if cartons are? (Spoiler: coffee cups are compostable.) Screw-On Caps Are OK It’s okay to leave the screw-on cap on the container when you’re recycling it. Did You Know? Carton Recycling Demonstration Beverage Carton Recycling in Europe