Trash.

I thought this rule changed recently too but I can't find any info online applying specifically to Worcester. I just tear off and throw out any greasy bits and recycle the clean bits.

but, in general: when in doubt, throw it out. if the recycling stream is too contaminated then it gets burned or dumped into a landfill instead of properly recycled.

trash, because of the pizza grease

Recycle. Throw away the paper/refuse inside box. Disassemble. Fold. Then recycle.

Soiled pizza boxes (and food soiled containers) are trash, they contaminate the recycling stream. Recycle, dont wishcycle

I’ve never had a problem putting pizza boxes in recycling, as long as they’re clean and I try to break them apart.

I was always taught that paper was automatically trashed if it touched food directly. Pizza boxes, donut boxes, fast food wrappers, etc.

Per worcesterma.gov's recyclopedia:

>You can put your EMPTY pizza box in the recycling. Grease is okay.

>Some people ask us what kind of pizza boxes we mean. The answer is pizza boxes (with the exception of frozen pizza boxes) made out of cardboard or box board (think: cereal box) can be recycled as long as they are empty. Helpful suggestion: Fold the box inside out before you put it in the recycling. This will make sure that the box is completely empty so there are no surprises at the sorting facility.

>Liners and pizza savers (pizza tables) go in the trash. The food should be composted or put in the trash

both.

if the top half doesnt have any food residue on it, you can recycle it. but the part that has cheese and grease has to be thrown away.

I found this, not sure how I missed it last night

https://www.worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling/trash-disposal

Pizza Boxes -if soiled (place under yellow bag). Unsoiled pizza boxes can be recycled.

I pull off the greasy paper,rip up the box and recycle haven't had a problem yet

I always place them under trash bags curbside and they get picked up. The smaller boxes I place in the trash bags of there is space.

This is shocking! Thought pizza boxes were the quintessential "do not recycle" item.

I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure that was the case for a long time, and recycling facilities have only recently been able to process them.

It's the little things, like this, that remind you that as much as Worcester has changed, Worcester is the same. Why not contradict yourself on your own website?

FWIW: When they launched the new recycling bins, the literature they shared agreed with this, pizza boxes, even with grease, can be recycled.

You can recycle them now! Just remove any wax paper with food on it.

It would be nice if they tidied up the definition of "soiled", that's for sure.

Nice try, Andrew.