PSA: As you may have heard, pizza boxes go in the trash, but check your local guidelines first
McLean, Virginia. – On National Recycling Day, November 15th, the Paper and Packaging Board (P+PB) will raise awareness and clear up confusion about recycling frequently used items, such as America’s favorite take-out pizza box. I’m here.
Despite growing awareness, confusion persists as to whether certain items belong in recycling bins based on certain local recycling guidelines. US citizens consume an estimated 3 billion pizzas annually, with 600,000 tonnes consumed, especially on the five busiest pizza days (i.e., Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Super Bowl Sunday). You may have leftover cardboard boxes. middle of discussion. According to a recent study by the America Forest & Paper Association, “Many paper products used every day across the United States have high community access rates of 80% or more. boxes, magazines, etc. are widely accepted for recycling.”
To help clear up the conflicting information and take advantage of one of America’s most recyclable materials, the Paper and Packaging Board has created an evergreen list of tips for daily use, not just for National Recycling Day. They want you to know that these items are designed to be recycled.
- Pizza boxes – remove all food and recycle (even with a little grease and cheese)
- Blank and colored paper – Think stationery, file folders, stationery, and more.
- Mail and envelopes (even those with windows, of course), greeting cards — if you still have coupons, throw them in too.
- Most of the boxes stacked when buying cereals, shoes, cosmetics, medicines
- Takeaway and frozen food containers, including ice cream cartons, only if the contents are empty and clean
- Shipping Boxes – Empty, lay flat and keep dry
- Magazines and Newspapers – No need to remove staples or worry about special inks or glossy papers.Today’s recycling machines can process them
- Juices, tetra packs, milk cartons – first remove all liquids and replace caps where applicable.
- Wrapping paper that does not use foil or glitter.Includes cardboard tube
Mary Anne Hansan, President of P+PB, said: “Pizza box recycling is a perfect example of packaging designed to be recycled, but the word is still getting around. Pizza is a universal food, and so are cardboard pizza boxes. Getting them back can have a big impact as they can be turned into new packaging and products.
Recycling rules vary by location. Enter your zip code at BeRecycled.org for local guidelines. For more information on what can be recycled and how, visit www.howlifeunfolds.com.
