Madison Reporter

Residents of Madison can now recycle their entire cardboard pizza boxes, including the greasy parts. This change marks a departure from previous guidelines that required residents to separate and discard grease-stained sections.

The City of Madison advises, "If you have City of Madison recycling at your home, you can now put the entire cardboard pizza box in the green recycling cart." However, residents should ensure that all leftover food and non-cardboard items are removed before flattening the box for recycling.

For further information on what materials can be recycled, the Streets Division has introduced an online tool called Recyclopedia. This resource is available on their updated website along with additional recycling guidelines and tips.

Once collected, recyclables are taken to Pellitteri Waste System's material recovery facility where they are sorted into various categories such as paper, plastic containers, metal, and glass. The recyclable materials are then sent to manufacturers to be transformed into new products. Specifically for cardboard, it is sent to Midwest paper mills to be processed into new paper products.

The shift in policy allowing for greasy pizza boxes comes from advancements in paper mill technology which enable them to process these materials more effectively. Residents interested in learning more about the city's services can visit www.cityofmadison.com/Streets.