Can You Compost Paper Plates? The Eco-friendly Truth Donna Larson, November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Are you attempting to gather materials for your compost heap and wondering can you compost paper plates? Yes, let’s look at the breakdown. Can You Compost Paper Plates? The short answer is yes. Adding household papers is a great way to increase the brown material of your compost pile or worm bin. However, there are a few exceptions to consider before adding paper plates to your home compost pile. What is the Difference Between Compostable and Biodegradable Plates? When researching can you compost paper plates, you may see the words compostable and biodegradable used interchangeably. Truly though, there’s a difference. Compostable products, including compostable paper plates, are designed to break down into natural elements in a compost environment. They decompose into nutrient-rich soil when placed in a compost bin. Composting requires specific conditions to break down the material efficiently. The right temperature, moisture, and microbial activity are all required. Biodegradable: Biodegradable products break down naturally over time when exposed to various environmental conditions, such as moisture, heat, and microorganisms. While composting is a form of biodegradation, not all biodegradable materials break down efficiently in a home composting environment. Some biodegradable plates might break down in a landfill. However, the process can take longer than in a composting facility due to the lack of oxygen and other necessary conditions. What Are Compostable Plates Made of? Usually, compostable plates are made of paper. Some plates are made from other organic materials like sugarcane fibers, bamboo, or other plant-based fibers. There are even compostable plastics as a choice in disposable plates nowadays. Are Paper Plates Biodegradable? Yes, they are biodegradable, but with some special exceptions. Read on for further explanation. Not Sure Whether That Plate is Compostable or Recyclable ? If unsure, you can also check the manufacturer’s website or contact them directly for information about the ability to compost their paper plates. How to Know if Your Paper Plate is Compostable To determine if paper plates are compostable, you can look for specific labeling, certifications, or information provided by the manufacturer. Check for specific wording on the packaging or product description that states the item is “compostable” or “suitable for composting.” Can You Compost Paper Plates With Plastic Linings? The plastic coating on a paper plate will not break down completely by the composting process. You may add it to the compost bin, and the paper will degrade. The plastic will break down into microplastics that you can’t see. This adds toxic chemicals into your compost. You may not want to add this compost to your food garden, as we’re now learning that microplastics can be taken up and stored by our bodies. Can You Compost Paper Plates With Wax Coatings? Some waxes used on paper plates are made from plant materials which are biodegradable in your compost. Others, however, like paraffin wax, are petroleum-based and will also add petro-chemicals to your compost. Can You Compost Paper Plates That Are Uncoated? Uncoated paper plates, particularly those flimsy, thin, paper-only plates, are totally compostable. Can You Compost Paper Plates With Dyes Added? Yes, dyes shouldn’t be a problem in your compost. You should look for those products that use natural dyes or colorants. What About Compostable Plastic Plates? We now have compostable plastic plates available on the market. These plates are designed to break down into natural elements in a composting environment under specific conditions. Compostable plastic plates are made from biodegradable materials derived from renewable resources like corn starch, sugarcane, potato starch, or other plant-based sources. Compost Paper Plates at Home Alright, now you know that you can do it yourself, let’s briefly cover how you can do it. The Correct Way to Dispose of Compostable Plates We have covered all of the details on home composting already, but here’s a quick rundown: Remove as much food residue as possible from your compostable paper plates. Break your compostable plates into small pieces. The smaller, the better. Add them into the compost pile with your other biodegradable materials. Some items to gather are food scraps, dead leaves, garden or yard waste, and animal manures. Traditional Compost Pile – Effective Composting Assemble your compost pile so that it’s in a 3′ x 3′ x 3′ pile. Be sure to layer in your materials like a lasagna, adding moisture along the way. You want it to be damp, not flooded. Let the compost come up to between 110° F and 160° F, and turn the pile. Repeat every couple of days. After 21-30 days, you should have usable compost for your gardens. The Importance of Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio Remember, of your compostable items, you need twice as much green material as you do brown material. Green = Nitrogen (coffee, manures, food scraps, green yard waste) Brown = Carbon (dead leaves, paper, cardboard) Getting this ratio perfect will aide you in a faster hot compost finish. If it’s not perfect, don’t worry about it, it’ll still compost, but it may take longer. The Correct Category: Brown Material Compostable plates are in the brown category. Use them like you would other paper or cardboard products, along with dead leaves or plants. Can You Compost Paper Plates That Are Dirty? Sure. You can add any kind of organic matter into your compost pile. “Organic” meaning once alive or made from something that was once alive. That said, you may invite unfriendly bacteria into your compost by adding foods like meats and dairy products. Additionally, rogue vermin may help themselves into your compost pile looking for such foods. How Long Does It Take Paper Plates to Decompose? Your very basic, uncoated paper plates may decompose in your hot compost in as little as 21 days. If you choose compostable plastic, they could take a matter of months or just over a year to compost under optimal conditions. Plastic Plates, Cups, and Utensils Remember, choosing a more eco-friendly option than plastic is your best option. If you must use plastic, look for certification labels that it’s a compostable plastic. What Can I Use Instead of a Paper Plate? Instead of using disposable paper plates, consider using something that you can reuse time and time again. Glass, stainless steel, ceramic, and wood are good alternatives. Eco-friendly Alternatives to Paper Plates The single-use paper industry generates a great deal of waste. We’re better off choosing an alternative to paper or plastic. Some other compostable dinnerware options include those made of: bamboo plates, made of the wood, or pressed fibers sugar cane, made from the fibrous byproduct after juice extraction palm leaf plates, durable large leaves used to hold foods wheat straw, made from a pulp of the fibers These are all more sustainable than paper as the resources used to make them are grown and harvested with a much faster turnover. Consider looking for these options when shopping for disposable plates. Sugarcane Plates, Cups, and Bowls Sugarcane is the most commonly used alternative for compostable plates. After the juice is extracted from the sugarcane, the fibrous byproduct left behind is called bagasse. The bagasse is then cleaned, and the tiny pulp fibers are made into paper. Although the manufacturing process still has an environmental impact, growing and harvesting the sugar cane is a lower impact than timbering trees for pulpwood. The Environmental Impact of Paper Plates Manufacturing paper plates requires the use of pulp wood or recycled paper. At first glance, you’d assume that this contributes to deforestation. The reality is that pulpwood is now farmed from fast growing pines, as a crop to be replaced as it’s used. Pulpwood has become a renewable resource. On the downside, cutting timber for the paper industry requires a great deal of energy consumption. Additionally, the factories’ energy-use to process the pulpwood into paper products is even greater. Paper plate manufacturing consumes a considerable amount of water, both in the pulping process and for cleaning and production purposes. Chemicals such as bleaches, dyes, and other additives may be used in the production of paper plates. Improper disposal of these chemicals can have adverse effects on the environment, which may require soil remediation. Watch Out for Misleading “Green” Terminology In the face of the hot topic of climate change, consumers are looking for a better option than filling the landfills. Marketing companies have caught on to this, and they’ve begun using buzz words that sound warm and cozy, but don’t necessarily mean compostable. Look out for phrases like: eco-friendly green non toxic low VOX natural sustainable environmentally friendly reduce your footprint carbon neutral company no special chemicals While your intentions are admirable, you may be inadvertently buying something at doesn’t compost. Final Thoughts On Can You Compost Paper Plates Remember, you can absolutely compost paper plates, but your best option is to avoid using a disposable plate in the first place. Reduce your waste by reusing your dinnerware. The recycling process is not always feasible, but composting works to turn those biodegradable paper plates into usable organic matter for your garden. Try these affordable, compostable plates at your next gathering. Happy Composting! Donna @ Hazel Belle Farm Donna and her family have been homesteading for most of their 20+ years together in some shape or fashion. She currently lives on their 20 acre farm where they grow as much food as possible. What started as a just a few laying hens, has grown into large gardens, pastured poultry, pork, and lamb. They are continuously evolving their small farm to not suit their family’s needs, but also providing to their local community. Donna’s favorite part of the family farm is her self-built micro-dairy, where she gets to love on dairy cows while serving her local community. Milking, cheesemaking, and processing dairy have become the soul of their homestead and the center of their farm. Composting Homesteading