A social media binman has told households to inspect empty takeaway pizza boxes before throwing them away, explaining that a simple mistake could mean recyclable cardboard ends up wasted. The advice comes as recycling rules vary widely between councils across the country.
Rip the box in half
The No1 Binman, who has more than 200,000 followers on TikTok and almost four million likes across his videos, addressed pizza boxes in a recent clip. He said the correct approach depends largely on how much grease and leftover food is inside.
His solution is straightforward: if part of the box is covered in grease while another section remains clean, he recommends tearing the two sections apart. The dirty piece can go into general waste, while the clean cardboard can go into recycling, provided that is what the local council's guidance allows.
Council guidance varies
The advice is supported by a number of councils and waste authorities. North London Waste Authority says a little grease on a pizza box is acceptable for recycling, but boxes covered with lots of oil, grease or food should not go into the recycling stream.
Newcastle City Council similarly says takeaway pizza boxes can be recycled, but they must not contain food residue. Residents are told to remove crusts, dip pots and sauce packets before flattening the box.
The reason for the fuss is what grease does to cardboard. Lancashire County Council explains that food grease can make it difficult to separate cardboard fibres during the recycling process, meaning contaminated material may not be suitable for recycling.
Check local rules first
There is no single rule covering every household in the country, however. Lewisham Council tells residents to put takeaway pizza boxes in general waste because they are often contaminated, although a clean lid can be cut off and recycled. That is why checking the council's website is important before deciding where the box belongs.
The No1 Binman also told viewers not to forget about whatever remains inside the box. Leftover pizza should be separated from the packaging and disposed of according to the food-waste arrangements available locally.
For households whose council accepts clean pizza-box cardboard, the takeaway message is straightforward: don't automatically bin the whole thing. Have a look at the box first, remove any food and separate heavily greasy cardboard from clean sections where local rules allow it.
