Madison Reporter

As National Pizza Day approaches, Pellitteri Waste Systems has addressed the long-standing question of whether pizza boxes are recyclable. The family-owned waste and recycling service provider based in Southern Wisconsin has confirmed that whole pizza boxes can indeed be recycled.

David Pellitteri, President of Pellitteri Waste Systems, stated, "Not all waste haulers accept pizza boxes. Across our industry, there have been concerns that grease or cheese residue prevented parts of the box from being made into new paper products." He explained that Pellitteri works with paper mills in the Midwest equipped with technology to clean typical levels of grease and cheese residue, allowing them to recycle entire pizza boxes.

Pellitteri's acceptance of whole pizza boxes is part of its broader initiative to expand recycling opportunities beyond state requirements. The company emphasizes using end markets eager to enhance recycling capabilities and continues investing in relevant technology.

Pizza boxes are made from high-quality corrugated paper and can be recycled up to seven times. One major U.S. box manufacturer estimates that about 3 billion pizza boxes are used annually across the country, amounting to roughly 600,000 tons of recyclable material.

Customers are encouraged by Pellitteri to place empty pizza boxes in their recycling bins after removing any remaining food, tissue, or plastic centerpieces.