Is Wax Paper Compostable?

Over the years, wax paper has become somewhat of a kitchen staple, and with good cause. It is waterproof, making it perfect for wrapping food and keeping it from getting soggy. Its features also make it great for rolling dough, lining drawers, and unsticking zippers.

But while having wax paper is undoubtedly beneficial, disposing of it sustainably can be tricky.

For many of us, it isn’t clear whether this paper is recyclable or even compostable.

Don’t worry about this though, you have come to the right place. In today’s post, we are going to discuss this and so much more.

Is wax paper biodegradable or compostable?

Whether or not a piece of wax paper is biodegradable or compostable is dependent on what the wax coating the paper is. If it’s vegetable paraffin wax or soybean oil, the wax paper is biodegradable and compostable. On the other hand, if the paper is coated with petroleum oil wax, it isn’t biodegradable and can’t be composted.

Even if your wax paper is compostable though, there’s one thing you should keep in mind – any kind of wax is hard for microbes to digest. But still, this type of paper doesn’t take long to decompose – two to four weeks is usually enough time.

Is wax paper recyclable?

No, wax paper isn’t recyclable. Since this type of paper is water-resistant, it can’t be broken down into pieces using water – a major part of the paper recycling process.

Is there anything else you can do with wax paper instead of just throwing it out?

You don’t have to throw away old wax paper just because you can’t compost it – you can reuse it instead.

As long as the wax paper is clean, there are many ways to reuse it. These include:

1. Lining surfaces
   Since wax paper is waterproof, it is a great material for lining surfaces. This protects them from water and stains. So if you have any old wax paper lying around, this is one of the best ways to reuse it.
2. Ironing
   To help improve your ironing, you can place wax paper over your clothes and glide your iron over it.
3. Easing your bottle cork
   If you love drinking wine but rarely finish a bottle in a single seating, old wax paper can make it easy for you to open your wine bottle after the first use. All you have to do is slide it in before putting in the bottle’s cork.
4. Wiping fingerprints from faucets
   If you struggle with getting fingerprint stains off your faucet, old wax paper can help you with that. All you have to do is use it to wipe your faucets – you’ll have smooth, stain-free surfaces in no time.
5. Starting camping fires
   Even by itself, wax paper is great for kindling fires. So if you have some old wax paper lying around, carry it with you on your camping trips and use it for the fire. You can even add some dryer lint to it to add some spark.

Compost or reuse!

Ultimately, there are only two ways to dispose of wax in an environmentally friendly way – composting or reusing. As such, it’s always advisable to opt for a wax paper that is coated with plant-based wax.