Can pizza boxes be recycled in Howard County?

Mostly yes! If the pizza box has grease spots but no stuck-on cheese or food chunks, it can be recycled. Heavily soiled boxes with food residue should be composted or trashed.

Do I need to remove tape and labels from cardboard boxes?

No. Small amounts of tape, labels, and staples are fine. They get filtered out during the recycling process. Don't waste time removing every piece of tape.

What if I have too much cardboard for my bin?

Bundle overflow cardboard neatly beside your bin. For large quantities (moving, new appliances), take it to Alpha Ridge Landfill for free recycling.

Can wet cardboard be recycled?

Slightly damp is usually okay, but soaking wet cardboard loses its fiber strength and may be rejected. Let it dry before recycling, or compost it if it's too degraded.

Where can I recycle large amounts of cardboard?

Alpha Ridge Landfill accepts unlimited cardboard for free. For businesses or large quantities, consider commercial recycling services or cardboard balers.

How to Recycle Cardboard in Howard County

The short answer: Flatten boxes, keep them dry, put in your blue recycling bin. For large quantities, drop off at Alpha Ridge Landfill for free. Almost all cardboard is recyclable—even pizza boxes with grease stains!

📦 Quick Reference

Curbside: Blue bin, flattened boxes, any pickup day
Pizza Boxes: Yes! Light grease is fine, remove food chunks
Tape & Labels: Leave them on, they get filtered out
Wet Cardboard: Let it dry first, or compost if soggy
Large Quantities: Alpha Ridge Landfill (free)

Flattened cardboard boxes ready for recycling

Why Cardboard Recycling Matters

Cardboard is one of the most valuable recyclables! Each ton of recycled cardboard saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,100 kWh of electricity. It can be recycled 5-7 times before fibers are too short, and Howard County has an excellent recycling rate.

What Types of Cardboard Can Be Recycled?

Corrugated Boxes

Shipping boxes, moving boxes, Amazon boxes

✓ Yes - Flatten first

Pizza Boxes

Light grease OK, remove food chunks

✓ Yes - Remove food

Cereal Boxes

Paperboard, shoe boxes, tissue boxes

✓ Yes - Remove plastic

Tubes & Rolls

Paper towel, toilet paper cores

✓ Yes - Always

Beverage Cartons

Milk, juice, broth cartons

⚠️ Yes - Rinse first

Waxed Cardboard

Frozen food boxes, wax-coated produce boxes

✗ No - Trash only

What's Recyclable vs. What's Not

✓ Yes - Recycle These

Shipping & moving boxes
Amazon & e-commerce boxes
Cereal, cracker, pasta boxes
Shoe boxes
Cardboard egg cartons
Paper towel & TP tubes
Pizza boxes (light grease OK)
Beer & soda cartons
Cardboard gift boxes
Brown paper bags
Milk & juice cartons (rinsed)
Cardboard dividers & inserts

✗ No - Trash or Compost

Wax-coated boxes (frozen food)
Food-soaked cardboard
Cardboard with heavy grease/cheese
Laminated or metallic cardboard
Cardboard with plastic coating
Styrofoam inserts
Packing peanuts
Bubble wrap
Plastic mailers (even paper-looking)
Wet, moldy, or degraded cardboard

The Pizza Box Myth

For years, people were told pizza boxes can't be recycled. That's outdated! Howard County and most modern recycling programs accept pizza boxes with grease stains. Just remove stuck-on cheese or food chunks. When in doubt, tear off the greasy bottom and recycle the clean top.

How to Prepare Cardboard for Recycling

Flatten all boxes completely — Break down boxes flat. This saves space in your bin and helps the recycling truck collect more efficiently. A full bin of unflattened boxes might only hold 2-3 boxes!
Remove non-recyclable materials — Take out styrofoam inserts, plastic air pillows, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts. These go in the trash (or return air pillows to Amazon).
Remove excess plastic — Pull out the plastic bag liners from cereal boxes. Remove plastic windows from envelopes. Tape and labels can stay.
Keep cardboard dry — Wet cardboard can jam recycling equipment and may be rejected. Store your recycling indoors or in a covered bin until pickup day.
Place in recycling bin — Blue bins for curbside pickup. Stack overflow neatly beside the bin if needed.

Pro Tip: Tape & Labels

Don't waste time peeling off every piece of tape and every label! Modern recycling facilities filter these out during processing. Just remove big chunks of plastic like air pillows—the small stuff is fine.

Curbside Recycling in Howard County

Howard County has single-stream recycling, which means cardboard goes in the same blue bin as paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Here's how curbside works:

Curbside Pickup

Place your blue bin at the curb by 6 AM on your collection day. Cardboard should be flattened inside the bin or neatly stacked beside it.

Weekly Pickup Same Day as Trash Unlimited Cardboard

Rainy Day Tip

If it's raining on pickup day, put cardboard in a plastic bag to keep it dry until the truck arrives—wet cardboard can get rejected. Remove the bag when you put it in the bin, or leave the bag open so workers can access the cardboard.

Drop-Off Locations for Large Quantities

Moving? Got a bunch of Amazon boxes? Curbside can't handle everything. Here's where to take large quantities:

Alpha Ridge Landfill

Accepts unlimited cardboard for free. Just drive up to the recycling area and unload. Great for post-move cleanup or after getting new appliances.

📍 2350 Marriottsville Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104 | Mon-Sat 8am-4pm

Unlimited Cardboard Free for Residents All Recyclables

Elkridge Recycling Drop-Off

Convenient south county location for recycling drop-offs including cardboard.

📍 6175 Baltadona Way, Elkridge, MD 21075

Cardboard Paper Bottles & Cans

Retail Stores

Some big box stores accept cardboard for recycling, especially if you're returning packaging from their products.

Costco Home Depot Best Buy

Special Situations

Moving Boxes

After a move, you'll have a mountain of boxes. Options:

Give them away: Post on NextDoor, Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle. People moving always want free boxes!
Reuse: Store flat in garage for future use
Curbside: Break down and put out over several weeks
Alpha Ridge: Take the whole load at once

Large Appliance Boxes

New TV, refrigerator, or washer? Those giant boxes are 100% recyclable:

Break down flat (jump on them if needed!)
Remove styrofoam inserts (trash)
Cut into manageable pieces if very large
Stack beside recycling bin or take to Alpha Ridge

Amazon & E-Commerce Boxes

Getting a lot of Amazon deliveries? Here's the efficient approach:

Flatten boxes immediately—don't let them pile up
Remove and save air pillows (Amazon will take them back)
Paper packing material goes with cardboard
Plastic mailers are trash (even the paper-looking ones)

Amazon Air Pillow Return

Those plastic air pillows from Amazon shipments can be returned at any Amazon return location (Whole Foods, Kohl's) or placed in plastic bag recycling bins at grocery stores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recycle cardboard with staples?

Yes! Staples are removed during the recycling process. Don't waste time pulling them out. Same goes for small metal clips on packaging.

What about cardboard with shiny coating?

It depends. Light glossy printing (like on cereal boxes) is fine. Heavy metallic or plastic lamination (like some gift boxes) is not recyclable—those go in the trash.

Can I recycle cardboard that's been painted or decorated?

Small amounts of paint or marker are okay. Heavily painted or glittered cardboard (like craft projects) should go in the trash.

Is brown packing paper recyclable?

Yes! Brown kraft paper (the crinkled paper stuffing in packages) is excellent for recycling. Ball it up less and lay it flat if possible.

What about cardboard tubes from wrapping paper?

Cardboard tubes are recyclable. Cut long tubes in half so they fit in your bin.

Can I compost cardboard instead of recycling it?

Yes! Cardboard is great for composting—it's a "brown" material that adds carbon. Tear it into smaller pieces and mix with food scraps. Pizza boxes are especially good for compost since grease doesn't matter.

My recycling bin is always full of cardboard. What can I do?

Make sure you're breaking down boxes completely flat—most people don't flatten enough. If you still have overflow, stack extra cardboard neatly beside your bin or take it to Alpha Ridge.

Are cardboard drink holders recyclable?

Yes—those molded cardboard cup holders from coffee shops and fast food are recyclable. Just dump out any liquid first.

Business Cardboard Recycling

If you're a Howard County business with significant cardboard waste, consider:

Commercial recycling service: Most waste haulers offer cardboard-only bins
Cardboard balers: Compress cardboard into bales for pickup—often generates revenue
Behind-store compactors: Many strip malls have shared cardboard compactors
Howard County business recycling program: Contact the county for assistance

Overwhelmed by Cardboard & Junk?

After a move or major declutter, cardboard is just one part of the mess. We can haul away all the boxes, packing materials, and unwanted items in one trip. Everything gets recycled or donated properly.

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