Can pizza takeaway boxes be recycled? (Image: Getty)
When it comes to recycling, one particular waste item often causes a debate over whether or not it can be placed in the green dustbin – and that’s the pizza box.
Whilst a pizza cooked from fresh or frozen generally poses no problem with regard to what to do with its cardboard packaging afterwards, a takeaway box is an entirely different matter. If you have ever ordered from a high street chain or independent outlet, you will have no doubt noticed the grease it leaves behind.
Some Brits’ attempts to recycle their pizza boxes in the past have resulted in waste collectors refusing to take them, whilst others don’t bother to try at all, believing their local authority will refuse them. However, a waste firm has now set the record straight.
“Is it true that if pizza boxes have got grease on them they can’t be recycled?” comedian, Stuart Goldsmith asked in a serious video posed to Bristol Waste.
Staff informed him in response: “If it has a very small amount of grease on it, it’s probably fine.”
However, they went on to point out: “If it’s pretty greasy, then you can just cut around the grease stain and chuck the rest in the recycling.” A second member of staff elaborated that you can just “tear the greasy bit off” if necessary.
Stuart was also interested in hearing Bristol Waste’s thoughts on what would make for a more efficient source of packaging for takeaway pizza.
“Loads of pizza places now just put a little sheet of paper under the pizza – and then the box is normally fine,” they advised in response. “It’s that simple.”
People were quick ot share their thoughts in the comments section on TikTok. One user exclaimed: “Always done that, it takes 3 seconds.”
However, others were sceptical, including a second person who hit out: “Why can’t greasy boxes be recycled? Surely, the water treatment to break it down into cellulose will just make the grease float, right? Seems easier to use gravity to sort it, than to try and make 65 million people aware of this and interested enough to put in the effort.”
Countless others confessed they didn’t have the time to be cutting up pizza boxes, meanwhile, but according to Fresh Start Waste Services, it’s something we should all consider doing.
“Grease and oil then causes severe issues during the recycling process,” they advise online. “Plants reject tonnes of otherwise acceptable cardboard each year because of contamination from too much grease.”
The company continues: “Rather than being converted back into another useful resource, your cardboard pizza box often ends up being incinerated or piled onto the nearest landfill. This is a fate we are keen to avoid as recycled cardboard only consumes around 75% of the energy used to manufacture new cardboard from virgin pulp.”
Fresh Start Waste Services also notes that the easiest way to assess how severely your pizza box is affected is to pick out any clumps of cheese or other toppings that have fallen off the pizza.
“Finding these bonus nibbles is a tough job, but it needs doing,” they said. “From here, you’ll be able to make a swift judgement as to whether your pizza box will pass the grade. A small amount of oil, while not ideal, won’t be a problem – just try to soak up any excess with a napkin or kitchen towel.”