Waste & Recycling News
William Moore, president of Moore & Associates, a paper recycling consulting firm, said most of the companies he works with are able to process pizza boxes without a problem. “Food contamination is a standard thing that mills are able to deal with, and have been able to for a long time,” Moore said.
A moderate amount of food contamination can be washed out during the stock preparation cleaning process at a paper mill, Moore said. Entire slices of pizza or a pile of crusts left in a box could gum up the process, but a few greasy boxes won’t harm the final product. Disposing of oils and food residue can incur additional costs, however, he said.
Bottom line...eat all of your pizza and double check with your waste hauler. At the very least, recycle the parts of the box that aren't contaminated!
