Comments on: The Pizza Box Mystery http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/ Make Everyday Earth Day Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:02:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Becky http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-2/#comment-34376 Becky Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:02 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-34376 Great post!! I always tell my roommates we can recycle pizza boxes and used napkins, whoops! Great post!! I always tell my roommates we can recycle pizza boxes and used napkins, whoops!

]]> By: Gabe http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-2/#comment-34286 Gabe Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:01:50 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-34286 I am actually quite upset. I'm glad that I finally learned this, as I can't count the number of times that I've recycled greased pizza boxes. I think instead of calling it "irresponsible recycling" perhaps it should be "not raising awareness." I'm astounded that I haven't learned this before, and I think it's because of poor education on the matter, which should be corrected. If it really wastes $700 million per year, I think the best remedy to the problem is actually let the public know, not sit back and eat the deficits. I am actually quite upset. I’m glad that I finally learned this, as I can’t count the number of times that I’ve recycled greased pizza boxes. I think instead of calling it “irresponsible recycling” perhaps it should be “not raising awareness.” I’m astounded that I haven’t learned this before, and I think it’s because of poor education on the matter, which should be corrected. If it really wastes $700 million per year, I think the best remedy to the problem is actually let the public know, not sit back and eat the deficits.

]]> By: Pam K. http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-34147 Pam K. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:39:28 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-34147 A SMALL amount of grease or cooked food residue shouldn't be a problem if you are making your own compost (assuming there is enough "clean" compost to mix with). Extrapolating on the garden path idea--another use for the "dirty" part of the pizza box (or other cardboard) is as a weed barrier when creating raised beds or underneath decorative mulch. It will decompose eventually and add to the soil. If at the bottom of a raised bed it will discourage weed seeds from sprouting but allow roots from plantings to penetrate to the soil below. By the way--I love the idea of reuseing "gently used" pizza boxes for those who eat takeout pizza regularly--not the solution for everyone but still....cool! A SMALL amount of grease or cooked food residue shouldn’t be a problem if you are making your own compost (assuming there is enough “clean” compost to mix with). Extrapolating on the garden path idea–another use for the “dirty” part of the pizza box (or other cardboard) is as a weed barrier when creating raised beds or underneath decorative mulch. It will decompose eventually and add to the soil. If at the bottom of a raised bed it will discourage weed seeds from sprouting but allow roots from plantings to penetrate to the soil below.
By the way–I love the idea of reuseing “gently used” pizza boxes for those who eat takeout pizza regularly–not the solution for everyone but still….cool!

]]> By: B Raymond http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-32079 B Raymond Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:57:39 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-32079 In our part of Washington State, our yard waste collection company--Waste Management, Inc.--happily accepts food waste in with the yard waste. All of that is taken (a short distance) to a private composting facility. This includes soiled pizza boxes and and food soiled paper. In our part of Washington State, our yard waste collection company–Waste Management, Inc.–happily accepts food waste in with the yard waste. All of that is taken (a short distance) to a private composting facility. This includes soiled pizza boxes and and food soiled paper.

]]> By: bernard b carman http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-31664 bernard b carman Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:13:03 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-31664 i generally inspect used pizza boxes prior to throwing them into my recycling and make a call. if they are not that bad, i put them outside face up to get rained on an cleaned. usually, that takes care of the problem, as far as i can tell. but regarding the cost of recycling, i have been under the presumption, based on various studies in the past, that most recycling doesn't work very well anyway. from what i understand, ONLY aluminum is worth recycling via the current process and most all other forms (glass, paper, plastic) operate in the negative cost, and the processes used are actually bad for the environment (sort of like "green cars" having expensive batteries which need to be replaced every few years and are bad for the environment). ALSO, that much of the recycled material actually just winds up in the land fills. i've just been going along with it for years living in a house with 9 people, but feeling like i'm not really helping in doing so, and merely just "following the law". is this still true, or is there some new and improved recycling method that actually works well? i would not be surprised in the least, for nearly everything the government becomes involved in doesn't work! 8-) i generally inspect used pizza boxes prior to throwing them into my recycling and make a call. if they are not that bad, i put them outside face up to get rained on an cleaned. usually, that takes care of the problem, as far as i can tell.

but regarding the cost of recycling, i have been under the presumption, based on various studies in the past, that most recycling doesn’t work very well anyway. from what i understand, ONLY aluminum is worth recycling via the current process and most all other forms (glass, paper, plastic) operate in the negative cost, and the processes used are actually bad for the environment (sort of like “green cars” having expensive batteries which need to be replaced every few years and are bad for the environment). ALSO, that much of the recycled material actually just winds up in the land fills.

i’ve just been going along with it for years living in a house with 9 people, but feeling like i’m not really helping in doing so, and merely just “following the law”. is this still true, or is there some new and improved recycling method that actually works well? i would not be surprised in the least, for nearly everything the government becomes involved in doesn’t work! 8-)

]]> By: Holly http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-30954 Holly Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:10:28 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-30954 Thanks Lori! I love it any day that I learn something new and I, also, have stood at the recycler wondering yea or neigh...and then figured the food tainted it. I HAVE cut the bad part out and put the rest of the box into the bin, so now I feel good about that! I will begin to remove the pizza when it comes home and before it gets soiled with grease. Thanks Lori! I love it any day that I learn something new and I, also, have stood at the recycler wondering yea or neigh…and then figured the food tainted it. I HAVE cut the bad part out and put the rest of the box into the bin, so now I feel good about that! I will begin to remove the pizza when it comes home and before it gets soiled with grease.

]]> By: Blogs » Blog Archive » thinking outside the (cardboard pizza) box :: Blogs :: PostStar.com http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-30854 Blogs » Blog Archive » thinking outside the (cardboard pizza) box :: Blogs :: PostStar.com Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:44:15 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-30854 [...] then ponder 500 cardboard boxes, which can’t be composted because of the oily food residue, and which most localities will not accept for recycling for the same reason. Pizza boxes will eventually decompose, if they make it to a landfill and not an incinerator, but [...] [...] then ponder 500 cardboard boxes, which can’t be composted because of the oily food residue, and which most localities will not accept for recycling for the same reason. Pizza boxes will eventually decompose, if they make it to a landfill and not an incinerator, but [...]

]]> By: What sort of paper can be recycled? : Blisstree - Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-30659 What sort of paper can be recycled? : Blisstree - Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:16:02 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-30659 [...] pizza box, according to Earth 911 is not only not recyclable in most cases but may be contributing to a $700 [...] [...] pizza box, according to Earth 911 is not only not recyclable in most cases but may be contributing to a $700 [...]

]]> By: Think Twice About That Pizza Box | Earth Promise http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-29911 Think Twice About That Pizza Box | Earth Promise Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:48:08 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-29911 [...] becomes unrecyclable, but the other paper that sits with it waiting to be recycled becomes ruined. Earth911 has a great post detailing the pizza box [...] [...] becomes unrecyclable, but the other paper that sits with it waiting to be recycled becomes ruined. Earth911 has a great post detailing the pizza box [...]

]]> By: Sri Julianti http://earth911.com/blog/2009/03/02/the-pizza-box-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-29789 Sri Julianti Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:02:15 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=13456#comment-29789 Great articles. I think Pizza producer to provide the box with perforation, so that the consumer can trim the box easily. Great articles. I think Pizza producer to provide the box with perforation, so that the consumer can trim the box easily.

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