Can We Recycle Pizza Boxes?
Italian King Umberto enjoyed the first slice of pizza I and Queen Margherita in Naples around 1889. Today pizza is one of the favorite fast foods, and not only that, but it is also one of the most consumed fast foods. According to an estimation, almost 30 million pizzas are eaten per hour globally.
Types of Pizza
With time, pizza became a household name worldwide. Different places regions gave pizza its unique touch. Today you can find almost a dozen different types of pizza.
Some of them are:
- New-York style pizza
- Chicago pizza
- Neapolitan pizza
- Californian pizza
- Sicilian pizza
What is a Pizza Box?
A pizza box is a cardboard box typically used to carry a pizza. The pizza box is made of cardboard to be folded up and stored away when it is not being used. The pizza box is also designed to protect the pizza from being damaged. The pizza box was conceptualized to make home delivery easy and smooth.
The credit for the pizza box goes to Tom Monaghan, who was looking to deliver pizzas efficiently. Therefore he hired a company to design and develop cardboard boxes, and Pizza boxes are rectangular.
Types of Pizza Box
There are a few different types of pizza boxes. The traditional box has a flap on top that the pizza is put into, and the flap is then folded over. Another type is a box that is made out of cardboard that has a pull-out tray that the pizza is put on.
This box is good for large pizzas because the tray can hold the entire pizza. Yet another type of pizza box is a box made out of foam, and this box can be folded up and is good for small pizzas.
Pizza boxes come in all shapes and sizes. There are the standard square boxes, the triangular boxes, and the round boxes. Then there are the specialty boxes, such as the pizza wheel box and the pizza bag.
The Material Pizza Box is Made of
The pizza box is made of wax-coated cardboard designed to keep the pizza warm and prevent the pizza from getting soggy. The wax-coated cardboard is also moisture-resistant, which means that it will not absorb any liquid from the pizza.
Is a Pizza Box Recyclable?
The pizza box is ubiquitous in American dining culture, from pizza delivery to pizza night at home. But what happens to the pizza box after the pizza is gone? Surprisingly, the pizza box is recyclable. Most pizza boxes are made of cardboard, which is recyclable, and the cardboard pizza box is recyclable.
The pizza box is made of corrugated cardboard, made of three layers of paperboard. The pizza box is recyclable because the layers of paperboard can be recycled into new cardboard boxes.
Additionally, the wax coating on the inside of the box can be recycled. There is a small minority of pizza boxes that are made of polystyrene, which is not recyclable. However, polystyrene pizza boxes can be composted.
Corrugated pizza boxes are successfully recycled every day at paper mills throughout the country, yet consumers remain confused by mixed messages suggesting that some boxes should not be put in the recycle bin. So, let’s be clear: Pizza boxes are recyclable. Consumers should not be concerned about grease or cheese- remove any leftover pizza and place the box in the recycle bin. We encourage communities to update their residential recycling programs’ guidelines to accept pizza boxes that are free of food explicitly.
In the words of Heidi Brock, President and CEO of AF & PA
Hence there are no reasons not to recycle your pizza boxes.
How to Recycle Pizza Boxes?
Now the biggest issue to consider is recycling pizza boxes. Billions of pizzas are delivered worldwide annually, and hence, the waste management of boxes is crucial to the environment.
Did you know that pizza boxes can be recycled? Most people don’t, but the fact is that pizza boxes can be recycled along with other cardboard packaging. Here are a few tips on how to recycle pizza boxes:
- Cut off the greasy parts of the box.
- Place the pizza box in your recycling bin with another cardboard packaging.
- Remove any food or grease from the box before recycling.
If the box is too greasy, you can instead put it in your trash can. There are other alternatives as well.
Wall hangings can be made using them, and this can be a good chore for kids too. At times, netizens have also shared concepts like reusing the pizza box like an egg holder and whatnot.
For those fond of drawing and sketching, these boxes can be cut open and transformed into supportive equipment for color palettes too. Another feasible method is to pass the box through a paper shredder and transform it into reusable handmade paper. Colors can also be added quite easily.
For busy people, try contacting the pizza vendor in case they take the boxes back. Enhanced sustainability can also be achieved by eating in the eatery, traveling a few miles, or using your utensils. Though it sounds a bit too much, these small steps can have a considerable impact on the future of this planet.
Conclusion
Recycling is one of the three Rs of effective waste utilization. Waste generation has also increased sans bound with the increasing demand for pizzas. It is best to buy pizza from places that use recyclable boxes. If this is not possible, the consumers can go with their personalized methods of tackling this problem. There is one more eco-friendly tip for the ones who wish to play their part well – take as many condiments as necessary to cut down on plastic wastage too.
Next time you order pizza at your home, make sure you act responsibly and recycle the pizza box in whichever way you are most comfortable. If billions of pizza boxes are left unrecycled, it will be a huge burden on the ecosystem.
