I got asked this question a few times recently, and the answer is pretty simple.
There’s no need to trash pizza boxes. Place them in the recycling, but at least remove the waxed paper and excess cheese first. Unless of course you decide to compost them.
Composting pizza boxes is your best option, especially if your town doesn’t accept them for recycling.
Rip it up into smaller pieces, and throw it all in the compost bin, including the remaining food stuck to it and even the waxed paper. The waxed paper will take a bit longer to degrade, but it will eventually.
Worms also love cardboard, so you can always rip up the box and place it in your worm composting setup. Cardboard is a great source of bedding, and they’ll eat it too.
Speaking of pizza boxes, check out this video:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBjJjpkjl0
I wonder if single-use plate companies like Dixie are trying to shut this company out…hopefully not, because it’s a really great use of a clunky pizza box! It seems like more and more single-use plates are #5 or #6 plastic, or worse yet styrofoam…both of which have a fat chance of being recycled.
As I always say, paper is only marginally better than plastic, but paper is always compostable, and its chances of actually being recycled are much greater than plastic.