Photo: Central Park Conservancy
Have you ever wondered exactly what to do with an empty pizza box? Do you stuff it in a garbage bin, tie it up with the rest of your cardboard, or leave it on the ground of your trash pit? More of us than would care to admit are guilty of that last option.
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It may sound silly, but it’s a conundrum many conservation-minded Upper West Siders face–especially with an abundance of great pizza in the area.
Look no further than the Central Park Conservancy for an answer. Well, at least for those enjoying a pie in the park.
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The organization launched a pilot program in May 2024 with the goal of providing a more sustainable way to recycle pizza boxes. According to a press release, the program–which featured dedicated pizza box recycling bins near the Great Lawn–resulted in the recycling of more than 1,300 pizza boxes.
NBC News reported the program’s main goal at launch was to curb the citywide rat problem. What started as one pizza box recycling container grew to four, which helped the Conservancy recycle more than 34 tons of paper and cardboard from the park in 2024 (the overwhelming majority of which was surely not pizza boxes).
We’ve now gotten confirmation from the Conservancy that the pizza box recycling bins will be reinstalled in time for Memorial Day at four locations throughout Central Park: East Pinetum, West 81st Street, Sheep Meadow, and East 97th Street.
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And for those of us still wondering or planning to celebrate National Pizza Day on February 9: yes, you can discard empty pizza boxes with your other cardboard and paper products, as long as those boxes are only “lightly soiled,” according to NYC.gov.
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I “like” the no slice image. Don’t think that park pizza eaters will always follow the rule.
I can imagine all sorts of things that aren’t used pizza boxes ending up in one of these containers.
This is fundamentally a bad idea. As it is when the masses are left to their own devices; they’re assholes. Every touron (tourist moron) riding a bike the wrong way will be same person who will throw their garbage in anything. Instead of focusing on a pizza box disposal container, maybe the city council and mayor should focus more on crime and safety. Get the e-bikes out of the park. Get the dickbag pedibikes out too. Enforce speed limits, transverse bike restrictions, etc. Essentially focus on the shit that everyone cares about. Not this fucking useless idea!