A binman known as The No1 Binman has issued a warning that pizza boxes should never be placed in recycling bins, as they can cause entire loads to be rejected. The advice comes as many households unknowingly contaminate their recycling with greasy cardboard.
In a recent video, the binman explained that despite cardboard typically being recyclable, pizza boxes are often too soiled with grease and food residue. 'Pizza boxes should not be in the recycling bin,' he said. 'They should be in your general waste bin, whatever colour that will be.'
The issue is that grease contaminates paper fibres, preventing them from binding during the pulping process. This makes the material unusable for recycling and can spoil an entire batch, or even a whole lorry load of otherwise clean recycling.
Binmen have the authority to refuse collection of an entire recycling bin if it contains contaminated items such as dirty pizza boxes. Local councils often have specific guidelines, but the general rule is that only clean, dry cardboard should be recycled.
For those wishing to recycle pizza boxes properly, the advice is to tear off and discard any greasy or stained sections, placing them in general waste or compost. The clean, grease-free parts, such as the lid, can then be placed in the paper and cardboard recycling bin.
