Can You Compost Pizza Boxes? Here’s What You Need To Know

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Ever finish a delicious pizza and then wonder, “What do I do with the box?” You’re not alone.

Pizza boxes seem like they should go straight into the recycling bin, but it’s not always that simple.

Here’s a full breakdown of how to dispose of pizza boxes the right way – recycling what you can, composting what you can’t.

Can you compost pizza boxes?

Absolutely. In fact, composting is often the best option for used pizza boxes. Grease and small food bits don’t cause any issues in a compost pile.

Cardboard breaks down naturally and helps balance out moisture-rich food scraps, making it an excellent “brown” material for composting.

If you have a vermicompost (worm bin), cardboard can be used as bedding material. Just avoid adding large globs of cheese or meat, as those may attract pests or harm the worms.

Related post: Apartment Composting: All you need to know & 7 ways

Are used pizza boxes recyclable? 

Pizza boxes are made of cardboard, so they should be recyclable, right?

Yes… but only if they’re clean.

The problem is that pizza boxes are often soaked with grease, cheese, sauce, or crumbs. That contamination makes them non-recyclable.

Why does grease matter?

If you want to read more about paper recycling in my article here, but in a nutshell, when cardboard and other paper are recycled, they are mixed with water and turned into a “slurry.” 

The paper fibers will not be able to be separated from the oils during the pulping process.

If the cardboard is greasy or oily, the fibers can’t separate properly, and this can contaminate the entire batch of recyclables. Food is one of the biggest contaminants in the paper recycling process.

So, if your pizza box is greasy, oily, or has leftover food stuck to it, it should not go in the recycling bin.

The best thing you can do, is:

• Tear off the clean parts (like the lid, if it didn’t touch the food) and recycle those.
• Cut or rip up the greasy parts and compost them.
• Recycle the clean parts.

By separating the clean from the dirty, you’re making sure both recycling and composting are done right.

Can you put pizza boxes in the green bin?

If you don’t compost at home, your city’s organic waste collection (green bin) is the next best thing.

In many places, like the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, green bins accept food-soiled paper and compostable materials, including greasy pizza boxes.

✅ Tip: Always check with your local municipality. In some cities, compost bins are brown or another color (e.g., Barcelona and Zagreb use brown for organics).

Final tips

• Check your local guidelines – Every city has different recycling and composting rules. Always double-check your local municipality’s website.
• Think beyond pizza – Other food containers made of paper, like donut boxes, burger wrappers, and sandwich bags, follow the same rules. If they’re greasy, compost them; if they’re clean, recycle them.
• Beware of stickers and tape – Delivery boxes often have stickers or plastic tape (e.g., order receipts, branding). These should be removed before composting or recycling the box.
• Shred for faster composting – Tearing or shredding the box into smaller pieces helps it break down faster in your compost pile or bin, especially in colder climates or smaller compost systems.
• Make your own pizza – Want to reduce waste altogether? Try making pizza at home! You can skip the packaging, experiment with healthier ingredients, and even go zero-waste. Or, support local restaurants and dine in – no box needed.

Conclusion

While it may seem like a small detail, how you dispose of a pizza box makes a big impact.

Greasy parts = compost.
Clean parts = recycle.
Food-covered parts = green bin (if allowed).

Most importantly, focus on reducing single-use waste wherever you can. Recycling helps, but reusables and mindful consumption is always the best route.