How-To 4 min read · 2026-10-10

Are Pizza Boxes Recyclable?

Good news: the old rule that a greasy pizza box can't be recycled has largely been overturned. Industry research now shows typical grease levels don't harm paper recycling, and most US communities accept pizza boxes with the cardboard. Here's the current guidance and the few things you still need to do first.

Yes — Pizza Boxes Are Now Recyclable

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) confirms used pizza boxes are recyclable, and about 82% of Americans have access to a community program that accepts them. In an industry survey, mills representing 93.6% of the old-corrugated-cardboard that members process said they accept pizza boxes. So in most places the box goes in your curbside paper/cardboard recycling.

What About the Grease?

The "grease ruins recycling" idea turned out to be mostly a myth. A study by AF&PA member WestRock found that the typical amount of grease and cheese on a pizza box doesn't meaningfully affect the recycled fiber. Reporting on the study noted a box would need to be roughly 20% grease by weight to cause problems, while real-world boxes average only about 1-2%. So light grease spots and small bits of baked-on cheese can stay — just don't recycle a box that's soaked through.

How to Recycle a Pizza Box

Remove all leftover food (slices, crusts) and pull out any liners, plastic supports or dipping-sauce cups. If part of the box is heavily soaked with grease or stuck-on food, tear that section off and compost or trash it, then recycle the clean cardboard. Flatten the box so it doesn't jam the bin or the sorting line. Finally, check your local program — a small number of communities still exclude pizza boxes under their hauler contract.

For a plain-English breakdown of what the numbers and arrows mean, see our guide to recycling symbols and numbers.

💡 Key Takeaways

Most pizza boxes are now recyclable with cardboard — the grease rule was largely a myth
Remove leftover food, liners and dipping cups first
Tear off and compost/trash any grease-soaked sections, recycle the clean part
Flatten the box; check your local program since a few still exclude them

Frequently Asked Questions

Are pizza boxes recyclable?

Yes. The American Forest & Paper Association confirms used pizza boxes are recyclable, and about 82% of Americans can recycle them curbside. Remove leftover food and liners first, tear off any grease-soaked sections, and flatten the box. See our paper & cardboard recycling guide for more.

Doesn't grease ruin pizza-box recycling?

Not at normal levels. An AF&PA/WestRock study found typical grease and cheese don't harm the recycled fiber; reporting on it noted a box would need to be around 20% grease by weight to matter, versus the 1-2% a real box carries. Only recycle boxes that aren't soaked through — tear off and compost any saturated parts.

What do I do with an empty pizza box?

Pull out any liner, plastic supports and sauce cups, remove leftover food, tear off grease-soaked sections (compost or trash those), flatten the box, and put it in your curbside paper/cardboard recycling.

Is my local program guaranteed to take them?

Usually, but not always — AF&PA says 82% of Americans have access, yet a few communities still exclude pizza boxes by contract. Check your city or county recycling guide or a tool like Earth911 if you're unsure.

🔗 Related recycling resources

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