Recycling question

hi all, maybe someone knows the answer to this. Recycling rules state “clean” pizza boxes are recycleable. Question is, what contstitutes “clean”? If there is no actual food on the box but it has grease stains, is that ok? Thanks. 

No food or grease is allowed.  They recycle cardboard by adding water and making a paper slurry from it, grease or oil ruins the whole batch.  I have rarely had a pizza box that was in good enough condition to be put into recycling.

If the top of the box did not touch the pizza and is food and grease free you can tear the lid off and throw that in recycling and then toss then grease contaminated bottom in the trash, reducing the amount of trash but also not contaminating the recycling stream

https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/recycling/pages/residential-curbside-recycling

Grease makes the pizza box not acceptable for recycling. 

spontaneous said:
No food or grease is allowed.  They recycle cardboard by adding water and making a paper slurry from it, grease or oil ruins the whole batch.  I have rarely had a pizza box that was in good enough condition to be put into recycling.


If the top of the box did not touch the pizza and is food and grease free you can tear the lid off and throw that in recycling and then toss then grease contaminated bottom in the trash, reducing the amount of trash but also not contaminating the recycling stream

This is the first time I have seen anyone explain how to recycle a pizza box like you did in the second paragraph, first line.   That is the best advice one can get on pizza box recycling.  I tear off the grease and cheese contaminated areas of the box on both top and bottom and then recycle the rest of the box.  My way is a hassle and most people can't be bothered doing it, but your way is very easy and simple. 

Thank you for sharing your method.

Eric