How to Recycle Corrugated Cardboard Boxes
Shipping boxes and corrugated packaging, widely accepted in curbside programs. One of the highest-performing recyclables by weight, with a 69-74% US recycling rate in 2024.
Quick answer
Yes, corrugated cardboard is one of the best-performing recyclables around: the US recycled 69-74% of it in 2024 (American Forest & Paper Association). Flatten boxes, remove tape and any plastic or foam inserts, and keep them dry, then put them in curbside recycling or take large amounts to a recycling center. Pizza boxes count as corrugated too - empty them and tear off any heavily grease-soaked sections, though how strict your program is about grease varies by city. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Recycling code
- OCC
How to Prepare
- 1Flatten to save space
- 2Remove tape, shipping labels, and any plastic or foam packing inserts
- 3Keep dry - wet, moldy cardboard can't be pulped
- 4For pizza boxes: empty them and tear off any heavily grease-soaked or cheese-caked sections
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling
- Drop-off centers
- Commercial recyclers
Special Instructions
Pizza box rules vary by city. Some programs (like ecomaine in Portland, Maine) accept greasy pizza boxes as long as they're empty; others (like Falmouth, Massachusetts) require the whole box to be free of food residue. When unsure, tear off the worst sections and recycle the rest, or check your local program.
Environmental Impact
Corrugated cardboard recycled at a 69-74% rate in the US in 2024, with more than 33 million tons recovered - about 90,000 tons a day. Nearly half of all recycled paper that year went back into containerboard, the material new cardboard boxes are made from.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
FAQs
Can I recycle a greasy pizza box?
It depends on your local program. Some facilities accept pizza boxes with grease stains as long as the box is empty, since a normal amount of grease doesn't stop the fiber from being pulped. Others ask that the whole box be free of food residue. A safe middle ground: always empty the box, and tear off and trash any section that's heavily soaked with grease or has cheese stuck to it.
What is the actual cardboard recycling rate in the US?
69-74% in 2024, according to the American Forest & Paper Association - a range because of how the rate is calculated (recycled cardboard compared to cardboard available for recovery). That's more than 33 million tons recycled that year, making corrugated cardboard one of the highest-performing recyclables by weight.
Do I need to remove all the tape before recycling a box?
Removing tape helps but isn't strictly required in most programs - paper mills can screen out small amounts of tape and plastic during pulping. Large amounts of tape, foam inserts, or plastic air pillows should still come out, since they don't break down and can contaminate the load.
Related recycling guides
- How to recycle Cardboard
- How to recycle Aseptic Cartons (Tetra Pak)
- How to recycle Bottle Caps & Lids
- How to recycle Padded Mailers (Paper)
- How to recycle Blister Packs
- How to recycle Bubble Mailers (Plastic)
- How to recycle Toothpaste Tubes
- How to recycle Coffee Pods & Capsules
- How to recycle Multi-Layer Food Pouches
- How to recycle Disposable Utensils & Straws
Recycle corrugated cardboard boxes
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