Can you recycle pizza boxes?

Here are the rules by North Jersey county

By: Caitlin Brannigan
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Think twice before tossing pizza boxes in the recycling bin.
..... Although pizza boxes are made from the recyclable material corrugated cardboard, many North Jersey counties restrict how they can be recycled. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, grease-stained pizza boxes and those that still contain food waste cause problems in the paper recycling process.
..... Because of this, some counties' recycling centers don't accept pizza boxes at all, while others only accept certain parts of the box.
..... In every North Jersey county, the wax paper that often comes inside pizza boxes must be removed. It is not recyclable with the rest of the box, according to Recycle Coach.
..... "It is important ... to first check with your local recycling program prior to adding these boxes into your recycling containers so that you do not unkowningly 'contaminate' your load of recyclable materials with unacceptable materials," the DEP wrote.
..... Residents can sue the Recycle Coach app or website to see what materials local recycling centers accept.
..... Here are North Jersey's regulations on recycling pizza boxes by county.

Bergen County

..... Pizza boxes containing grease, cheese, crusts and wax paper liners can't recycled. Empty and clean pizza boxes can be recycled. Residents can also remove the dirt parts of the box and recycle the rest.

Essex County

..... Pizza box bottoms with grease and food residue must be thrown in the trash. The rest of the box can be recycled.

Hudson county

..... Empty pizza boxes can be recycled.

Morris County

..... All pizza boxes must be thrown in the trash.

Passaic County

..... All pizza boxes must be thrown in the trash.

Sussex County

..... Pizza boxes with no food residue can be recycled.

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