Are Pizza Boxes Recyclable?

Can greasy pizza boxes be recycled?

With Rumpke, yes! Greasy pizza boxes are recyclable, regardless of how much grease saturates the container. Our paper mill partners don’t consider grease as a contaminant in any state, a standard that has changed and improved over the years.

Be sure to follow the guidelines of your local recycling facility, as their capabilities and end user needs may be different.

Can I recycle a frozen pizza box?

Pizzas from the freezer section at the grocery store or a local retailer are often shrink-wrapped in plastic. Separate the plastic-wrapped pizza from the box and recycle the box easily.

The American Forest & Paper Association estimates that about 3 billion pizza boxes are used in the U.S. each year, equating to about 600,000 tons of cardboard. (1)

Are pizza boxes compostable?

This depends on the quality of the pizza box after it's been used. Food scraps in a composting bin must be layered with dry matter. Clean pizza boxes can often be torn and shredded for this purpose.

Avoid shredding and reusing pizza boxes that are saturated with grease, as the oils can affect the quality and nutritional balance of the organics in your compost pile and attract rodents.

Confusing Pizza Box Messaging Clarified

1) Pizza Box Messaging vs. What’s Actually Recyclable

Some pizza boxes are printed with a reminder to recycle it; however, like recycling symbols on plastic, the sign or symbol doesn’t determine its recyclability. While it’s completely understandable that pizza companies add a recycling reminder, the recyclability is determined by your local recycling facility.

2) Why Do Pizza Box Recycling Guidelines Seem Inconsistent?

Pizza box recycling guidelines are inconsistent because they vary from facility to facility. It’s important to understand that recycling facilities do the best they can to accept all types of recycling material. A facility's sorting technology and consumer and manufacturing market demands have an impact on which items can be recycled.

This is why some recycling facilities will accept greasy pizza boxes while others consider any greasy cardboard to be contaminated.

Third-Party Sources

Sometimes, inconsistencies can also arise between the recycling facility and third-party sources (such as HOAs) due to outdated information or lack of clear communication. The recycling industry is constantly changing and improving, so while greasy pizza boxes may not initially be recyclable, that guideline could quickly change at your facility.

When in Doubt?

When in doubt, Rumpke encourages recyclers to always seek updated information from their local recycling facility.

3) Pizza Grease vs. Food Waste Contamination

Food waste is always a recycling contaminant and should never be thrown into recycling with your pizza box. Make sure to scrape off all food residue from the cardboard. With Rumpke, once all the food residue is off, you can recycle it without worrying about the grease.

According to the American Forest & Paper Association, grease and cheese are no problem: 

“AF&PA agrees with the methodology WestRock used for testing the impact of grease and cheese on recycling postconsumer pizza boxes in paper manufacturing, and agrees that the results of the study support the conclusion that there is no significant reason to prohibit post-consumer pizza boxes from the recycling stream.” (2)

Pizza Box Recycling Tips

• Know the pizza box recycling guidelines of your local recycling facility.
• Don’t blindly follow the recycling instructions printed on a pizza box.
• Food is always a recycling contaminant, but grease saturation is not.
• Break down the cardboard into pieces to fit inside the bin.
• Don’t be a wish-cycler!

Pizza Box Recycling Bins

Public recycling bins built specifically for pizza boxes are becoming more popular in places with heavy foot traffic and pizza shops. Be on the lookout!