Why aren't pizza boxes recyclable?

Question

Pizza is consumed in the millions by americans. None of these boxes are recyclable. I think this should be changed and all pizza companies should have to use recyclable boxes. What do you think?

I live in Texas

Answer 1

Pizza boxes are only non-recyclable when they are soaked with oil, sauce and cheese. So long as you keep the boxes clean, you can recycle them along with your other paper and cardboard waste.

Should your boxes become messy, you can still "recycle" them...
Allow me to introduce you to composting. Composting is a great benefit to the environment, not only does it create beautiful mineral-rich soil, it also DRASTICALLY reduces landfil waste (which it seems you are interested in). Compost is not just for those who live on a farm, or in the woods, and, no, it does not stink like cow manure (unless you put cow manure in it). I live in the city, and I keep a compost bin in my kitchen.

Compost is made of two basic components: greens (produce waste such as fruit peels, vegetable skins, etc.) and browns (dried plants and flowers, eggshells, food-soaked napkins and paper towels, pizza boxes, etc). Keep the levels of these components even, mix well and often (to aerate), and you too can have a happy little compost bin!

By composting you can keep your contribution to the landfills low, green up your garden with super-potent soil, and not have to rely on the limitations of your city to recycle your pizza boxes!

Answer 2

because of the oil from the food & base that gets in the cardboard & ruins it for recycling purposes also food scraps in all containers not just pizza boxes ruins the recycling process.
Always rinse out and clean everything before putting in recycle bin

Answer 3

Pizza boxes are already made of at least 8 percent recycled material. Also, pizza boxes absorb a lot of grease which will make the recycling process much harder.

Answer 4

They cant be recycled because they are food soiled and any paper that isnt dry, clean, and are filled with food stains cant be recycled.
You can however compost the pizza boxes in your compost bin (if there is any available by your recycling company) or shred the boxes up and compost them in a compost heap in your backyard.
hope this helped

Answer 5

This has been answered many times before

Answer 6

i own a pizza shop and we put our pizza on a cardboard circle before we put it in the box so the grease doesn't get on the box and therefore the box can be recycled.

Answer 7

I think that the problem is that there is food that comes into contact with the boxes--you know how you always lose some cheese to the top of the box--and paper that has food on it cannot be recycled, or at least can't in my town.

Another approach would be having pizza companies used RECYCLED boxes, helping to strengthen the demand for recycled goods. I believe that the supply of recycled material exceeds the demand for it at this time.

I think your question is a good one and that thinking like yours will do our world some real good. Thank you for asking it.

Answer 8

Funny, I was wondering the same thing myself

Answer 9

Recyclers don't want food remains in the cardboard. It probably attracts insects and vermin. But if you have corregated cardboard, you can pick off any cheese and crumbs, break up the boxes, and hide them in other cardboard to be recycled as the other answerer did.

Answer 10

My recycling center has always accepted pizza boxes. Of course, I try to remove any food scraps before recycling, which is only common sense, just as I wash bottles and plastic containers. I'd check further....you might have some erroneous information. -RKO- 05/27/07

Answer 11

You can't recycle them but you can compost them.