WasteSpot.com
Practical recycling directory
EN
English EN Português PT

Paper and cardboard

How to dispose of pizza box.

Recommended answerClean, dry portions can often use paper/cardboard recycling; heavily greasy or food-soiled portions may need food-waste or residual disposal.
Find collection placesBrowse recycling centres

Recommended route

Check the local paper and food-waste rules. Separate clean lid sections from heavily contaminated bases when practical.

Before disposal or return

  1. Remove food, liners and plastic supports.
  2. Flatten clean cardboard if the service asks.

Formats can change the answer

Coated, waxed or compostable-branded boxes can have different rules.

Do not

Do not place a heavily food-soiled box into clean paper recycling.

Reference sources

U.S. EPA — common recyclablesOpen source ↗Recycle Now — item recycling guideOpen source ↗

Checked 2026-08-16

Related objects

Continue with another item

Paper and cardboardthermal receiptsReceipts are often excluded from paper recycling because of thermal coatings and very small size.Paper and cardboardcardboard boxClean, dry cardboard boxes commonly use the paper/cardboard route.Composite packagingpaper cupMost paper cups contain a plastic lining and are not ordinary paper.