Decoding the disposal dilemma: How to properly recycle your pizza box
Whether you're a fan of the classic Margherita, the divisive Hawaiian, or the beloved capriccioso, one thing is sure: pizza ranks high as a favourite dish among many. Unfortunately, what to do with the greasy cardboard box after enjoying a pizza at home leaves some of us puzzled. Let's clear up that confusion.
Garbage segregation, a concept introduced during our school years, has recently received more attention in Poland. The push for proper waste disposal, urging the placement of plastic bottles and cans in the yellow bin, is growing. Yet, the protocol for pizza box disposal remains a mystery to many.
Which bin does the pizza box belong in?
It might seem logical to toss the paper-based packaging from this beloved Italian dish into the blue bin. However, the situation is more nuanced, as only clean cardboard is welcome there.
What about a greasy box soaked with olive oil or stained with cheese and sauce? First and foremost, it should not be mixed with clean, uncontaminated papers. The most advisable method is to throw the pizza box in mixed waste, which means placing it into the black bag. Yet, there’s more to consider.
Many pizzerias line their boxes with aluminum foil to keep the food warm. Before discarding the cardboard, remember to separate the foil and place it in the yellow bin for plastics and metals.
Handling a clean pizza box
Sometimes, a pizza box remains unblemished by grease or food residue. In those instances, the cardboard should be recycled and safely placed in the blue paper recycling bin.
Pizza boxes are often dirty, but only on one side. If that’s the case, consider cutting off the clean top part of the box for recycling in the blue bin while disposing of the soiled bottom portion in mixed waste.
