Many people have long debated whether pizza boxes belong in recycling bins. Initially, it seemed logical to recycle them because they are made of corrugated cardboard, which is typically recyclable. However, concerns arose about grease from the pizza seeping into the cardboard, leading to the belief that these boxes should only go in the rubbish. Recent studies, however, indicate that pizza boxes can indeed be recycled. The American Forest & Paper Association published guidelines in 2021 based on research from WestRock, one of North America’s largest recyclers.
The study revealed that while grease and leftover cheese can potentially complicate the recycling process, their quantities are generally too small to cause major issues. For recycling to be significantly affected, the cardboard would need to be roughly 20% grease by weight. In contrast, WestRock found that used pizza boxes usually contain only about 1-2% grease. It is recommended to remove any cheese, just as one would with other materials like tape or staples.
Despite these findings, outdated ideas about recycling pizza boxes persist online and in many local communities. Each year, Americans use around three billion pizza boxes, translating to roughly 600,000 tons of cardboard that could potentially be recycled instead of sent to landfills.
Citizens are encouraged to check the recycling guidelines of their local facilities. If the advice is still to discard greasy pizza boxes, residents could share the WestRock study and the American Forest & Paper Association’s guidelines. While this approach may not guarantee change, it could help influence recycling facilities to update their practices. In the meantime, consumers can recycle their pizza boxes, either by ordering pizzas with liners or uncut, to minimise grease contamination.
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