Reduce… reuse… recycle. It’s a mantra most of us have heard repeated many times, first rising to popularity in the ’70s as conservation efforts gained steam. Over time, the three Rs have come to represent a communal push to be less wasteful and curb the impact of mass consumerism on our planet’s environment. While recycling remains an imperfect system, it’s a noble campaign that has, at the very least, resulted in a larger public awareness of the need to reduce waste in our everyday lives.
But still, some of the rules around recycling can seem murky. The question often pops up… am I even allowed to recycle that? Some things, like styrofoam and bubble wrap, are obvious no-goes for your recycle bin. Others are less clear.
One specific item that causes confusion among potential recyclers is the classic takeaway pizza box. Is the cardboard packaging perfect for recycling, or does leftover grease and cheese disqualify it? Let’s take a look.
Can You Recycle Pizza Boxes?
Whether or not you can recycle a pizza box ultimately comes down to one question: how clean is the box? Most pizza boxes are made from corrugated cardboard. By itself, corrugated cardboard is incredibly recyclable and can be remade into new paper products. If your pizza box is mostly clean and free from any chunks of leftover melted cheese, you can go right ahead and throw it in your recycle bin.
But what if your pizza box is covered in grease after your delicious meal? In the past, it’s been widely understood that you shouldn’t recycle items still containing food waste, and a grease-soaked pizza box seems like a prime example of that.
Luckily for the confused pizza consumer, the American Forest & Paper Association provided some clarity on the issue back in 2023: you can always recycle cardboard pizza boxes, even if some food remnants remain.
“Grease and cheese in an amount typically found on pizza boxes are not an issue for the recycling process,” said the AFPA. “Simply remove leftover pizza and place the box in the recycling bin.”
You should still consult your local recycling rules, but rest assured that a little grease will not keep your pizza box from being recycled and reborn as a cereal box.
Source:
- American Forest & Paper Association, “Let’s Set the Record Straight: Pizza Boxes Are Recyclable?” 2023
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