Can You Compost Paper Towels?
Yes, plain paper towels are compostable. They're made of cellulose fibers that break down like other paper products, adding carbon ("brown" material) to balance nitrogen-rich kitchen scraps. Tear sheets into smaller pieces for faster decomposition, and keep amounts moderate if they're soaked in cooking oil or grease. Avoid composting paper towels used with bleach, ammonia, disinfecting wipes, or other harsh chemicals, since these can disrupt the microbes that drive decomposition. In an active, hot pile, shredded paper towels typically break down within 2-6 weeks. Because used paper towels generally can't be recycled with office paper, composting is usually the better disposal option for soiled ones.
Key Takeaways
- Plain paper towels are made from wood pulp cellulose, the same base material found in unbleached coffee filters and napkins, so they compost readily as a carbon-rich "brown" material.
- Paper towels used to wipe up raw meat juices should be handled with the same caution as composting meat scraps - bury them deep in the pile or skip composting if pests are already a problem.
- Some "quilted" or extra-strength paper towels include a small amount of synthetic reinforcing fiber; check the packaging, since fully synthetic blends resist breaking down.
Explanation
Plain paper towels are made from wood pulp cellulose, the same base material found in unbleached coffee filters and napkins, so they compost readily as a carbon-rich "brown" material. They help balance nitrogen-heavy "green" scraps such as coffee grounds and banana peels, which tend to overload a bin with nitrogen when added alone. Tearing sheets into smaller strips before adding them speeds microbial access to the fibers.
Home composting guidance limits paper products to uncontaminated material - free of dairy, meat, pet waste, and chemical residue. A paper towel used to blot cooking oil or bacon grease is still compostable in small amounts, but soak up more than a light film and it slows decomposition and can draw pests, much like adding bread to a pile in large quantities.
Paper towels used with bleach, ammonia, window cleaner, or disinfecting wipes should go in the trash, not the compost bin. These chemicals can kill the beneficial bacteria and fungi that drive decomposition and may leave residues in the finished compost. The same caution applies to towels used to clean up mold with bleach-based products; skip composting those and toss them instead.
In an active, hot compost pile running 130-160°F, shredded paper towels typically break down within 2-6 weeks; whole, folded sheets take longer since air and moisture reach the fibers more slowly. Used paper towels generally can't be recycled with office paper because wiping shortens and weakens the cellulose fibers, so composting - rather than tossing them in with recyclables like pizza boxes - is usually the better route for soiled ones.
Things to Know
- Paper towels used to wipe up raw meat juices should be handled with the same caution as composting meat scraps - bury them deep in the pile or skip composting if pests are already a problem.
- Some "quilted" or extra-strength paper towels include a small amount of synthetic reinforcing fiber; check the packaging, since fully synthetic blends resist breaking down.
- Vermicompost (worm) bins tolerate small, torn pieces of plain paper towel but should never receive greasy, bleached, or chemically treated ones.
- Municipal curbside composting programs vary - some accept soiled paper towels alongside food scraps, others restrict paper to specific categories, so check local rules before adding them at scale.
- Facial tissue and napkins should never be flushed, but like paper towels, composting is a safe alternative for both.