The Cardboard Charlie Pizza Box School Recycle Program was created in 2019 to encourage students to recycle their pizza boxes. Star Elementary School of the Hastings Area School Systems started collecting pizza boxes that were then recycled with a local hauler.
After COVID the program changed to include all of the Hastings Area Schools and have one main collection point, Hastings Ace Hardware.
Now, it’s ready to replicate an expand to other schools in Barry County and beyond!
Cardboard pizza boxes are often not accepted in curbside or residential drop-off recycling programs due to food contamination.
The top of the box can be removed and recycled if it is free of food and grease. The bottom often is soaked with grease and may have remaining bits of food.
Through the Cardboard Charlie Pizza Box collection program, the empty pizza box needs to be wiped clean but is then included in the larger baled cardboard to be recycled.
Pizza boxes are collected at a local collection site, counted, recorded, and then compacted and baled with the store’s other cardboard to be recycled by Padnos.
Pizza box counts are submitted and then sent to all local schools to be counted towards their “Challenge”. Once the schools reach the 2,000-box goal, they receive a certificate of achievement!
Anyone can participate by recycling their empty pizza boxes at participating locations!
If you’re interested in becoming a collection site or starting your own school program, fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Pizza Boxes Recycled

Participating Schools

Hastings Area Schools
- Hastings High
- Hastings Middle
- Northeastern Elementary
- Central Elementary
- Southeastern Elementary
- Star Elementary
- St. Rose Of Lima
- Barry County Christian

Get Started!

Interested in starting a Cardboard Charlie Collection Program in your area? Start a program at your school or become a collection site sponsor like the Hastings Ace Hardware! Fill out some info and we will contact you to help you get started!