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Can a used pizza box go in the recycling bin?

It’s been a hotly debated topic in households across Australia – can used pizza boxes be put in the recycling bin?

We may finally have the answer, with Brisbane City Council announcing residents can put them in the yellow-top without even having to scrape off the leftover cheese on the cardboard.

Field Services Chairman councillor Peter Matic said Brisbane City Council’s paper recycler, Visy, recycled all pizza boxes, even if they have some cheese.

“Residents are asked to continue putting their pizza boxes into the yellow-top recycling bins,” Cr Matic said.

Brisbane City Council says pizza boxes can be recycled. Picture: Getty Images
Brisbane City Council says pizza boxes can be recycled. Picture: Getty Images

“Due to the processes and volume of paper and cardboard being recycled, small amounts of cheese and oil do not impact the recycling process.”

Brisbane isn’t the only state to approve the recycling of used pizza boxes, however the City of Sydney advised residents to empty out and dry packaging beforehand.

“The city encourages residents to empty and dry all recyclable food packaging before putting in the yellow bin,” a city spokesperson said.

“Although the city always encourages residents to empty and dry recyclable food packaging, the processing facilities can handle a small amount of contaminated materials.”

The City of Melbourne also said pizza boxes could go in the recycling bin but the City of Adelaide had a different rule.

A spokeswoman said the lid of pizza boxes could be recycled but the bottom of the box, usually covered in oil and food scraps, should be put in the organics bin.

Resource recovery, recycling and waste management company Suez claimed some councils would not accept used pizza boxes in the yellow-top bin.

“Some councils accept pizza boxes in kerbside recycling bins, and others do not. If pizza boxes are completely free of food the cardboard can be recycled,” Suez said on its website.

“However due to the high contamination rate of pizza boxes, many councils advise residents not to include them in the recycling as the food contamination can often make it very difficult to recycle other paper and cardboard items.”

Suez encourages people to contact their local council to find out whether used pizza boxes can be recycled.