Pizza is a beloved food in many parts of the world, and even more so when it’s delivered. If you’re like me, then you probably get pizza at least once every week. It might be hard to resist after a long day of work!
Since we all love pizza and hate to see good food go to waste, we’re left with the problem of what to do with all those pizza boxes and their grease-covered paper. While we might think that they’re recyclable, we don’t recycle them because grease makes them unrecyclable.
This leaves many wondering: What can I do with my old pizza boxes?
The answer is simple: Compost pizza boxes!
We all know that composting is important and can be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but we might not realize just how easy it is. You don’t need any fancy equipment or piles of yard clippings hanging around the house. All you need is an old coffee tin with a lid and some twigs from last week’s yard work.
Let’s look at the various ways you can recycle pizza boxes while still managing to enjoy delicious, greasy pizza!
*Note that these tips are for those lucky enough to have curbside composting!
Table of Contents
1. Composting- It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
If you’re wondering how to compost pizza boxes, the answer is pretty simple: You can either throw them directly into your compost bin or bin of yard clippings, or you can tear them up and put them straight into your compost bin. For those wondering how to recycle pizza boxes with curbside composting, make sure that the box is broken down into very small pieces (especially if your pile heats up) because grease will stay in the larger sections of the cardboard.
2. Do They Make Garden Pizzas?
Another great way to use pizza boxes is to grow some delicious vegetables. Many have wondered if they can eat pizza boxes, and while it’s not recommended that you eat them, you can use the cardboard as a weed barrier in your garden! Put down a layer of newspapers or dry leaves on top of your garden soil, put down your seeds and veggies in rows, and cover them with another layer of pizza boxes!
3. Why Stop There?
If you want to get a little more creative with your recycling efforts, try shredding the box into strips and using it as garden twine or even natural packing material for fragile items. You can also cut the box into tiny pieces and spread them around in your garden.
4. Paper Beats Rock!
If you prefer to use the boxes themselves as garden containers, cut the top off the box and plant it in some soil or compost to grow flowers or herbs in! You can either do this with the whole box or just cut out a circle and plant seeds in it.
5. I’m Crushing On You
I know this one might sound a little strange, but hear me out: If your pizza box is leftover from a date and you don’t want to send the wrong message, then consider crushing it into small pieces and using them as compost or soil in your garden! If anything, it will be fun to reminisce about the good times you had on your date with this crushed-up container!
6. Sending A Message
Finally, if you’re still wondering what to do with old pizza boxes, consider using them as a hilarious way of telling someone that they need to lose some weight or that they should lay off the greasy food! Whether you’re sending a funny message to an old friend or just trying to get your younger brother in trouble, pizza boxes are the perfect way to send any message without saying a word!
7. Pizza Boxes Get The Boot!
If you don’t compost and want to make sure that your pizza boxes are thrown out properly, let them dry out and send them to your local recycling center! The process is pretty simple (and fun!) for anyone who needs unique recycling ideas.
8. They’re Green, After All!
For those concerned about keeping their carbon footprint small, composting pizza boxes is a great way to reduce the amount of garbage you produce every day. Composting is especially popular in college dorms, where students probably don’t have access to a compost pile. If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes at college or want some unique recycling tips for your next move-in day, then composting might be the way to go!
9. When In Doubt
Last but not least, if you’re ever wondering what to do with your pizza boxes, try throwing them in the yard waste bin or tear one open and recycle it piece by piece. There’s never a bad time to start recycling (or using) your old pizza boxes!
10. Lunchtime!
While these ideas are great for big parties, they can be used by kids and adults alike to make a quick and easy lunch! If you’re still wondering how to recycle pizza boxes, open up your box and use it as a plate or even a serving tray! You can also tear out the top and use one side as a plate and the other as a bowl for soup or cereal.
You could even tear out the entire bottom of the box and use it as a plate, but if you’re looking for some more creative ways to recycle your pizza boxes, then check out this article’s first suggestion: growing plants in them!
11. Plant them And Leave them
Cut your cardboard into smaller pieces and place them in some soil or compost. Once your plants start sprouting, you can place them in the ground and use the same cardboard pieces to grow more plants! If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes at home, then this is one of my favorite ideas.
12. A Unique Garden?
This is probably my favorite recycled-boxes idea yet. Cut off the top of your pizza box and turn it into a tiny garden in an old can! Once you’re done, place your ‘can’ garden in some sunlight (without letting the plant touch the sides) and water it every day! You can either keep this idea up all year or grow it when things are starting to bloom during springtime.
13. Planting Time Is Pizza Box Time!
If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes, why not cut out the bottom of your box and use it as a planter? You can either plant veggies or flowers in it – whatever you please! Before placing your plants inside the box, make sure to water them to avoid any damage.
14. A Pizza Box Birdhouse!
Of all the ways to recycle pizza boxes, this has got to be one of my favorites. Cut out a few pieces of your box and then reassemble them into a birdhouse that you can paint or decorate however you want! You can either give it to friends or family as a gift or decorate your yard with it and see what kind of birds drop by. You could even cut out some holes for the birds to come in and out!
15. A Pizza Box…At Work?
Before you start wondering how to recycle pizza boxes, remember that they’re great for taking notes on (or drawing on). If you’re a student, this is the way to go – place your paper inside and start writing away!
16. Tear The Box Apart And Use It As A Notepad
Don’t have any paper on hand? Then tear apart one of your pizza boxes and use the cardboard as a notepad (or sketchpad)! This is probably one of the easiest, smartest, and most fun ways to recycle your old pizza boxes.
17. A Funny Bookshelf?
Line up a few of your pizza boxes (face down) next to one another, and then stack them on top of each other! After that, lean them against your wall and see what kind of cool ‘bookshelf’ you’ve made!
18. A Pizza Box Shipping Container?
This is one of my favorite ways to recycle pizza boxes. Just take your empty box and turn it into a shipping container for your next move or even ship it off to a friend or family member as a gift. Fold out the top flaps and tape them down, then write where you’re sending them to.
19. A Pizza Box School Project?
Not only are pizza boxes great for lunch – but they can also be used as a school project! Cut some shapes out of your cardboard box (stars, hearts, circles, etc.) and turn them into a festive mobile. You can either give it to your teacher as a gift or hang it from above and see what kind of cool patterns you can make!
20. A Pizza Box Cat Bed?
This is another one of my favorite ideas for recycling pizza boxes. All you have to do is cut two holes on each side of the box, one for the head and another for the tail, then stuff it with some old clothes or fabric – make sure to place a dryer sheet on top so that your kitty doesn’t get sick!
21. DIY A Pizza Box Purse
If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes, then this has got to be one of the best ways. Cut some pieces out of your box (or use whatever’s left) and sew them together like you would with any typical purse.
22. A Pizza Box Easter Basket
If the Easter bunny is coming to visit, then why not make him or her an Easter basket made completely of recycled pizza boxes? Collect all of your empty boxes and stack them together, then decorate the outside however you want.
23. DIY A Pizza Box Tote Bag
If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes (or if you have too many of them lying around), then why not make yourself an eco-friendly tote bag? All you have to do is cut out a few pieces from your box and sew them together, then grab some handles from another bag or two and attach them to the bottom of your creation.
24. DIY A Pizza Box Purse Part 2
If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes (or if you have too many of them lying around), then why not make yourself an eco-friendly purse? Cut out the lid of your box and some straps from another bag or two, then sew them on to create a trendy new handbag!
25. DIY A Pizza Box Purse Part 3 (With Handle)
If you’re wondering how to recycle pizza boxes, why not turn one into a trendy new purse? This time, all you have to do is cut out the lid of your box and attach some handles from other bags or boxes. Once that’s done, decorate it however you want!
In fine,
By the end of this article, you should have plenty of ideas on how to properly recycle your pizza boxes instead of just simply throwing them away. If you ever come across a large stack, consider trying one or two (or more) out of the list above! Remember, recycling doesn’t have to be boring – it can be fun instead!
