Can You Recycle Pizza Boxes?

Last Updated on October 25, 2024

If you, like me, like to enjoy a delicious pizza whenever you can, it’s also important to learn how to recycle pizza boxes the right way!

Pizza is a fan-favorite food not only because of how tasty it is but also because of how easy to personalize it to your liking. Pizza lovers like me may be wondering: are you supposed to recycle pizza boxes? The answer is yes! Recycling pizza boxes is a simple way to help the planet by reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills.

pizza box recycling

A lot of people say, “Pizza is life.” And I wholeheartedly believe they’re right — pizza is life! I’m a pizza lover through and through, but my pizza backstory is a bit unconventional.

Growing up allergic to dairy, I never got to indulge in that pizza party life. Sure, my family would make cheeseless pizzas at home… but then one day… everything changed.

I was a senior in high school and a friend had a pizza party for her birthday.

We all went over to her house and she had ordered me a cheeseless pizza. I had no idea you could order a pizza without the cheese! I had never even thought to ask. 

So, I’ve been making up for lost pizza time ever since then. 

my favorite pizza traditions

Now fast forward to my senior year of college when my roommate takes me to Mellow Mushroom in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (I’m from Arkansas, remember? 😉)

And, they had dairy-free cheese options for the pizza! See, non-dairy alternatives are commonplace now, but back then it was a rarity.

This was the first pizza I had ever had with “cheese” on it, and I was hooked. Mellow Mushroom is still my favorite pizza of all.

Ever since I moved to California, I’ve witnessed a growing acceptance of food allergies and dietary restrictions and almost every pizza place in the area now has non-dairy cheese and gluten-free crust options.

My, how things have changed. This has been such a treat for me. It’s now a weekly tradition for me to have a Friday night pizza party for one!

(Well, two… if you count Justin, but he has to fight me for slices)

We often go out for pizza, but we also love a cozy pizza night at home, staying super snuggly in our favorite tentree duds. This always begs the question… what’s the best way to recycle a pizza box?

are you supposed to recycle pizza boxes?

Since there aren’t any places that deliver pizza in reusable containers (at least where I live), yes, I get my pizza in a cardboard box. Because pizza boxes are disposable, I always make sure that I do my part to dispose of them properly in a way that won’t harm the environment.

Pizza boxes are in fact compostable! But, are they recyclable? The short answer — yes.

My Friday pizza nights always have two items on the agenda. 1) Enjoy pizza! and 2) Recycle pizza box!

Luckily, learning how to recycle pizza boxes (and compost the pieces that can’t go in the recycling bin) is quite a simple process. While it does take a few extra seconds to break down the boxes and remove grease stains, recycling is a small step that can make a big positive difference for the environment!

1. separate the top and bottom halves of the box

Lots of restaurants have perforated edges on the boxes, making it super easy to take apart and recycle pizza boxes. Simply pull to separate the top and bottom halves from each other.

2. rip off any grease stains from the top half of the box

This is a really important step in pizza box recycling that you don’t want to miss. Any sort of cardboard or paper that is wet, greasy, or has food on it should not be placed in the recycling bin. 

Because grease and food residue can contribute to recycling contamination, it’s best to remove any traces of grease before you recycle pizza boxes. You can tear off any spots or sections that are affected by this.

3. recycle the top half

Now that you’ve removed the grease spots, you can get to the top half of the box! Clean and dry paper and cardboard products can be recycled — place the top half of the box in your recycling bin and you’re almost done.

4. compost the bottom half

After you’ve recycled the top half of the pizza box, the other half with the grease and food crumbs can be placed in your compost bin. And voila! You now know how to compost and recycle a pizza box, the right way.

recycling pizza boxes faqs

why are people so divided over the issue of pizza box recycling?

Rules and the items that can be recycled may vary based on location, so I highly recommend checking online to see the latest updates for pizza box recycling in your area. Some people don’t recycle pizza boxes because they simply don’t know that it’s okay to or they don’t know how to do so properly.

why is it important to recycle cardboard boxes?

Recycling cardboard reduces the amount of waste that ends up going into landfills. Cardboard that decomposes in landfills can release greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. When recycled properly, cardboard boxes can be reprocessed into new cardboard products instead.

what is the difference between recycling and composting?

Recycling refers to the process of breaking down non-organic materials and turning them into new products. Composting refers to the process of breaking down organic materials and turning them into soil. While they’re different, both are known to be beneficial for the environment.