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Can you compost wax paper? This question is one that many people who compost ask themselves, and for a good reason. With so many different things to throw away, including food scraps, it can be difficult to know how to dispose of certain items properly.
Most people know that composting clean paper is fine, but what if it’s coated with wax? In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of wax paper and if you can compost it.
Can You Compost Wax Paper?
In general, no, wax paper is not compostable. However, wax paper is compostable if you are absolutely sure that it doesn’t have a paraffin wax coating.
It’s important to know that almost all popular and conventional wax papers have a paraffin wax-based coating that you shouldn’t use in compost.
Paraffin wax usually refers to a type of wax made from coal, petroleum, or oil shale. Many companies use this paraffin wax to coat the paper. Unfortunately, paraffin-based wax papers (or petroleum based paraffin wax papers) are inorganic are not suitable for composting.
However, many brands make wax paper coated with soybean-oil-based wax and vegetable oil wax (or vegetable oil-based wax), which are indeed compostable. In addition, several brands make wax paper marketed to those looking for an organic alternative to use in their compost.
Typically, you’ll see these brands indicate that the paper is “compostable” directly on the packaging. However, keep in mind that some brands that display “compostable” on their package may be referring to the paper being commercially compostable, which is different than home composting.
Commercial composting facilities use industrial equipment to heat the compost at sustained temperatures for decomposition, whereas most home composting systems don’t have that capability.
Since most conventional wax papers are made with paraffin coating, we generally don’t recommend using wax paper for compost. Instead, we’d recommended using regular paper that can more easily be broken down since no wax coating slowing the process.
In general, wax paper will take longer to decompose in your compost. The vegetable oil and soybean oil-based wax papers are organic and usually take about four to six weeks to decompose. While regular, uncoated, shredded paper can break down much faster in just a few weeks.
Are There Any Concerns with Composting Wax Paper?
Yes, a few of the primary concerns of composting wax paper are the chemicals and the decomposition time.
Paraffin-based wax papers (with petroleum) won’t break down properly for your compost pile, and it will likely bring in issues.
Manufacturers also tend to add chlorine and bleach to wax paper, which can be a significant problem more often than not, so don’t use bleached parchment paper either. These paraffin-based wax coatings (and other chemical treatments) will take a long time to decompose fully.
How Do You Recycle Wax Paper?
Unfortunately, you can’t recycle wax paper by putting it in the recycle bin. However, there are some other ways you can get a second life out of your leftover wax paper. Here are some ideas:
- Reuse it! Many people will scrap their wax paper after the first use. Manufacturers design wax paper for durability, so it’ll usually be good for a few uses.
- Try to find someone who needs some paper for arts or crafts projects.
- Ask friends and family members if they need any used-up sheets. These are often great for wrapping gifts or using as teaching aids in classrooms where children use scissors at all times due to their low cost (waxed papers hold together better than regular tissue paper).
- Finally, donate unused sheets to shelters or food banks that serve those without access to such items.
Other Related Questions
Is Reynolds Wax Paper Compostable?
Reynolds wax paper is not compostable. Reynolds coats their wax paper with paraffin wax, which is inorganic and not recommended for your compost pile.
It doesn’t contain enough of the natural ingredients to break down quickly and safely in a home compost heap.
However, you can use many other alternatives for your food storage needs, such as unbleached parchment or beeswax wraps, which will do nicely at keeping things fresh while still being environmentally friendly.
Can I Compost Used Wax Paper with Food on It?
Composting safe, unbleached, and paraffin-free wax paper can still be a bit tricky. For example, if there’s any food on the paper, it becomes unusable because whatever bacteria was in the food will transfer onto other objects when composting.
When considering composting, the best thing to do is cut off oily pieces and throw them out separately- never try to compost anything containing food oils! Vegetable cooking oil breaks down quickly while animal fats don’t break down as easily, so keep this in mind before trying to put them into your compost pile.
Is Wax Paper Biodegradable?
Coated wax paper will eventually decompose no matter the coating, but some wax coatings can make the paperless biodegradable.
Coated waxes made from soybean oil and vegetable oil are both organic and would be considered biodegradable. In comparison, petroleum-based paraffin waxes are not organic and are not considered to be biodegradable.
How Long Does It Take for Wax Paper to Degrade?
Decomposition of wax paper depends on the type of wax used and the condition of the paper but can take anywhere from 2 weeks up to 12 months to fully decompose.
Wax paper with a coating made from organics (like soybean wax) will break down on the quicker side, taking 2 to 6 weeks. However, wax papers with inorganic coatings take much longer to decompose fully — sometimes as long as 12 months.
How Do You Compost Wax Paper?
I have a brand of wax paper that is safe for compost, but how do I compost it?
Here are a few tips:
- Make sure it’s clean. You don’t a bunch of unwanted food or oils making it into your compost.
- One suggestion is to break up the waxed paper into smaller pieces and then mix it with yard waste. Of course, the smaller, the better. You can even try shredding it.
- Another option is to put the wax paper in a separate container and compost it separately from other trash for up to six months. This will help decompose the wax paper before you place it in your larger compost pile.
All in all, it’s pretty simple. First, you’ll want to make sure that you’re adding the proper balance of organics to your compost pile.
Can You Compost Parchment Paper?
In general, you should not compost your parchment paper. Conventional parchment papers are either bleached, waxed, or are silicone-coated. Manufacturers use these chemicals to coat the paper to make the parchment more durable and greaseproof.
However, similar to wax paper, some manufacturers make unbleached, wax-free, and chlorine-free parchment paper. Check out this 
These compostable parchment papers are typically brown in color, and the packaging will indicate that it is “compostable.” The If You Care Brand has created a parchment paper that is certified and approved for home composting.
These compostable parchment papers don’t emit harmful emissions during decomposition, making them a much better choice over waxed papers, which can release toxic gases such as dioxins.
Conclusion
It is tricky to know whether you can compost wax paper or not. If you’re unsure what type of wax is on your wax paper, don’t risk throwing the wax paper in your compost bin unless you know that it’s paraffin-free and biodegradable. Have fun composting!