Composting Paper Products: A Complete Guide

There are so many types of paper, so what is really compostable? See our comprehensive list below to answer all your paper-related composting questions.

Did you know that you can compost 100% paper products? Composting is great to reduce waste and dispose of materials, all while creating a nutrient loop that returns organic materials back to the earth through finished compost. This sustainable process is both zero waste and zero energy, making it an ideal option to dispose of your paper products. By composting paper, you can reduce landfill waste while improving the sustainability of your home, business or event! 

Why compost Paper?

With our existing waste practices, paper and cardboard make up 23% of household waste. This is the largest section of waste that individuals send to landfills, and as a result, paper makes up about 12% of all waste in landfills. Instead of properly decomposing, paper and other materials take up space in our landfills and contribute to methane emissions. 

Recycling or composting paper are better end-of-life alternatives than landfills. Compared to the creation of new paper, recycling paper reduces water usage, carbon emissions and deforestation. It’s important to check with your local recycling hauler to see what materials they accept. This will help decide how to properly dispose of your paper products, whether through recycling or composting. Composting is a great alternative for paper products that are compostable.

Paper is an excellent added component to the composting process. It is naturally carbon-rich, which helps to break down other materials in your bin. Its structure also helps to preserve air flow and absorb moisture, all of which lead to a better finished compost product. Composting paper is a great way to reduce waste and live more sustainably! 

What Kind of Paper Can be COmposted?

Paper is clearly a great addition to your compost, but some paper products are more suited to composting than others. A general rule: paper products you are composting should be 100% paper (no gloss or chemical coatings like BPA, plastic, or wax). You can keep this in mind if you’re unsure of whether or not to compost a paper product, but if you have questions on specific types, check our list below! This comprehensive list is here to help you identify what paper products can or cannot be composted.

Can you compost newspaper?

Yes, newspapers can be added to your WasteNot bucket!

Can Egg cartons be composted?

Yes, most eggs cartons are compostable. Composting is the perfect solution for egg cartons that might be contaminated with any egg residue or shells since food materials are accepted in our composting bins. Contaminated paper materials are no longer recyclable, so composting is the perfect alternative.

Egg cartons made from cardboard can be composted, but egg cartons made from plastic or polystyrene cannot. Products made from these materials create unnecessary waste, much of it going to landfills (some of these plastic ones are recyclable, but all styrofoam products have to go to landfill). The best way to avoid this unnecessary waste? Look for eggs sold in cardboard containers when making your purchase!

Are Toilet paper and tissues compostable?

Toilet paper is compostable, but its use affects whether or not it can be placed into your WasteNot bucket. Any toilet paper or tissues with bodily fluids or waste on them are contaminated and therefore cannot be placed in your compost bucket. Any toilet paper that has been used with chemicals also can’t be composted (like cleaning or beauty products with chemicals in them).

Can you compost Toilet paper rolls?

Toilet paper rolls are made from cardboard, so they are compostable! As long as these rolls aren’t contaminated, they’re a great addition to your compost bucket. Plus, it’s a simple and easy solution to dispose of them.

Are paper towels and paper towel Rolls compostable?

Like toilet paper rolls, kitchen paper towel rolls are cardboard and therefore compostable. Paper towels are also compostable, but it also depend on what it is used for.

Paper towels that are used with chemical cleaners or used to clean up lots of oil or grease are considered contaminated and cannot be thrown into your compost bucket. The best option is to use a reusable alternative like WasteNot’s Reusable Paper Towels or Reusable Sponge Cloths. Opting for reusable towels or cleaning cloths allows you to keep your kitchen clean from all kinds of spills while reducing unnecessary paper waste. And at the end of their life, you can toss them into your WasteNot bucket along with all of your other compostables!

are Paper plates compostable?

Yes, most paper plates are compostable. 100% paper plates or eco-friendly alternatives like sugarcane or bamboo can be placed into your WasteNot compost bucket, but any paper plates lined with plastic or wax cannot be composted because they interfere with the breakdown process of materials. And don’t worry about additional food residue left on the plates—plates with food residue can still be composted.

can you compost Paper napkins?

Napkins are fully paper products and therefore compostable. The only napkins that can’t be composted are ones that are used with chemicals or something too oily. When they’ve been used for cleaning or are too contaminated with oil or grease, they introduce materials that do not allow for the composting process to work as intended.

is Shredded paper compostable?

Not only is it possible to compost shredded paper, but it’s a great addition to the compost process! Because it is already cut into small pieces, shredded paper has an aerated structure that helps to give compost the oxygen it needs to break all the materials down. And any sensitive information shredded is 100% destroyed in the process.

Can you compost Print paper/Paper with ink?

Some print paper or paper with ink is compostable. Since modern ink is non-toxic, it can be included in the composting process.

Glossy paper is not compostable. Paper coated with plastics, such as bisphenol A (BPA) in receipts, interfere with the composting process and should not be placed in your WasteNot bucket.

Are Cereal boxes compostable?

While cereal boxes are made from cardboard, they are typically not compostable. This is because they have an added material to create a glossy cover over the box. This gloss coating makes it so the product is no longer 100% cardboard, and therefore it can’t be composted. (But they can be recycled!)

Can you Compost Frozen at-home pizza boxes?

At-home, frozen pizza boxes are not accepted with our compostables. While we do accept delivery pizza boxes (that are only cardboard), frozen pizza boxes are coated with a material that prevents freezer burn. This coating cannot be separated from the cardboard, and so these at-home pizza boxes cannot be composted.

Is parchment paper compostable?

Traditional parchment paper is not compostable or recyclable. Parchment and baking paper is designed to be greaseproof, using coatings to protect the paper from deterioration. This includes silicone or wax coatings, both of which do not break down in the composting process. Once contaminated with food or grease, these sheets are no longer recyclable either.

For a more sustainable alternative to parchment paper or baking sheets, WasteNot’s Shop offers Parchment Baking Paper that is unbleached, chlorine-free and compostable!

can magazines be composted?

Magazines are not compostable. Because they are glossy and typically have a plastic cover on the front, the paper material cannot be separated in order to compost it. The best options for your old magazines are to recycle or donate to local businesses (like a library or doctor’s office).

is Wrapping paper compostable?

It is not possible to compost wrapping paper. Though it is a paper product, its glossy coating makes it difficult to include in the composting process. The best option is to use alternatives to traditional paper, like reusable cotton bags, fabric scraps, or compostable brown paper tied with strings. The best part is, you can be as creative as you want!

Do you have to separate paper in your wastenot receptacle?

Nope! The best part about composting paper is that you can toss it right into your WasteNot bucket along with all of your other compostables. Compost actually requires two components: ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material. Green material falls under the “If it grows, it goes!” saying we have here at WasteNot. It includes materials like fruits, vegetables, grass and other scraps that are rich in nitrogen. Brown materials are dry ingredients like paper and cardboard that provide the compost with carbon. The balance of both materials is crucial; the composting process needs both nitrogen and carbon in order to work properly.

So feel free to toss all your compostable-safe paper into your WasteNot receptacle and let us handle the rest!