Can I compost pizza boxes with grease?

Yes! The grease breaks down in composting. Just remove any plastic liner and tear into smaller pieces.

Are paper towels with cleaning chemicals compostable?

Avoid composting paper towels used with harsh chemicals. Paper towels from food cleanup are perfect for composting.

What about colored or printed napkins?

Most modern food-safe inks are fine for composting. Avoid heavily printed materials with thick ink layers.

How to Recycle Food-Soiled Paper & Cardboard

Paper products contaminated with food including pizza boxes, paper towels, napkins, and food-stained cardboard suitable for composting.

RecyclableFree carbon-rich material that balances nitrogen; creates compost worth $30-50 per cubic yardUpdated Jun 2026

Quick answer

Compost it, don't recycle it. Greasy pizza boxes, napkins, and food-soiled paper can't go in paper recycling (the grease ruins the batch), but they're great compost 'browns.' Tear them up for a backyard bin or your municipal compost/green-waste cart instead of the trash.

Recyclable: Yes
Typical value: Free carbon-rich material that balances nitrogen; creates compost worth $30-50 per cubic yard

How to Prepare

1Remove any plastic windows or coatings
2Tear into smaller pieces for faster decomposition
3Remove excessive food residue if possible

How to Recycle Food-Soiled Paper & Cardboard

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How to Recycle Food-Soiled Paper & Cardboard

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