If you regularly use paper towels, you may be wondering what the best way to dispose of them. Can you compost paper towels?
Don’t dump paper towels in the trash just yet. See if your city or town has a recycling program that accepts paper products–in many areas, paper towel is on the list. If not, you can compost them at home along with kitchen and garden waste. Creating a compost heap is beneficial as it can help improve the health of your plants and is beneficial for the environment as it allows you to dispose of waste from the kitchen and yard.
Can you compost paper towels?
Most paper towels can be composted, but you may like to read the packaging to make sure. Ensure you don’t compost wipes as these may contain plastic. Some paper towels are not made of pure paper. Read your labels to make sure you can safely compost your paper products.
Most tissues, kitchen rolls, or paper towels are suitable for composting. Just follow these easy steps to successfully add paper towels to your compost pile.
1. Break down the paper towel into small pieces. This will help it decompose more quickly. Composting paper towels isn’t always easy. Paper towels are designed to absorb water and become stiff, making it harder for them to break down in compost piles. To help speed up the breakdown process, shred them first.
2. Mix it with some “green” items from your yard, such as grass clippings, weeds, or shredded leaves. You can also add them to the compost pile at the same time as kitchen waste, such as vegetable peelings and leftovers. On their own, paper towels won’t make a very good compost, but when mixed with other items, paper towels can help improve the texture and composition of the soil.
3. Add plenty of “brown” items to your compost pile, such as dead leaves, straw, or wood chips. This will help balance out the moisture and create a good environment for breaking down paper towels.
4. Create heat by covering the compost heap and turn or stir the mixture periodically. Leave the compost for a few months so that everything rots down. It’s best to leave the compost as long as possible before using it. This will help to create nutritious compost that will be fertile and beneficial for your plants.
What are the benefits of composting paper towels?
Composting is a process that takes organic material and breaks it down into a soil-like substance. This can be done with many different types of materials, including paper towels.
Your plants will appreciate having added organic matter every now and again. Compost can be used to feed plants or can be mixed into the soil to improve soil quality. Better soil means more vibrant blooms, greener gardens, stronger plant stems, and bigger vegetables. Compost can be added to the topsoil instead of using fertilizer. It can be used to improve poor quality soils and to add nutrients, and improve soil texture.
By composting paper towels, you’ll also be doing your part to help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills each year. Nearly 30% of what’s thrown away in the United States could be composted, but it isn’t because people don’t know how.
What other items can you put in compost?
You can include food scraps, paper towels, coffee, wood shavings, and really anything else that would rot. Pine needles and coffee grounds make for great compost. Even weeds and grass clippings can be added to the mixture. You should avoid things that can’t biodegrade, such as wax paper.
Composting is a simple process that can help you reduce landfill waste and provide your plants with nutrients. It doesn’t take long, only about 30 to 90 days for your compost pile to become ready to use, and it’s easy enough that anyone can do it.
Conclusion
Composting has many benefits, including improved soil quality and reduced landfill waste. Paper towels can be composted if they are broken down into small pieces and mixed with “green” items, such as grass clippings or shredded leaves. You can also water your compost and turn it periodically to help with the composting process. Paper towels will break down into a soil-like substance after several months in a compost pile.