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Is Parchment Paper Compostable?
When you compost at home, you will find yourself looking for anything in your home that you can add to the compost heap.
There are lots of obvious things you can use for composting, but there are also plenty of other things that you would be surprised to learn are actually compostable.
One thing that is compostable is parchment paper, but you do need to know some things before you just throw it into your compost pile.
If you want to learn a bit more about how compostable parchment paper is, then you have come to the right place!
I have put together everything you need to know about using parchment paper as compost, so read on to learn everything you need to know!
What Is Parchment Paper?
Parchment paper is a common item found in kitchens. It is especially common in kitchens where a lot of baking is going on.
It is known by many other names, some of which include baking paper, waxed paper, greaseproof paper, and butter paper.
Parchment paper is mainly used for keeping the dish and the baked goods separate while they are cooking.
The parchment paper acts as a protective layer and stops the baked goods from sticking to the pan or the dish.
It is completely heat resistant and it’s a great non-stick alternative to using oil or even greasing your pan or dish with butter.
It’s incredibly affordable as well, and because you can use it in composting, it has many uses besides just cooking.
Is Parchment Paper Compostable?
So, we have already established that parchment paper is compostable, but not all parchment paper is compostable.
There are quite a few different kinds of parchment paper you can purchase and use for composting, but if you want to stay on the safe side, the best kind you can use is brown parchment paper.
The more natural the compost paper, the better it will be for composting, so really you want to avoid any kind of parchment paper that is bleached or waxed.
For the sake of keeping it simple, there are mainly two different types of compost paper, and they come in the form of white and brown.
White is usually treated with chemicals or some other product, and they should be avoided, but brown parchment paper is great for composting.
What Kinds Of Parchment Paper Can Be Composted?
Let’s go into a bit more detail about the kinds of parchment paper that can be composted.
It’s so important when you are using parchment paper in your compost heap that you use the right kinds.
As I have already mentioned, you should avoid white parchment paper at all costs. White parchment paper is usually made using bleach, which gives its color, and this makes it unsuitable for composting.
In some cases, chlorine is also used to make white parchment paper, and you should avoid adding anything with chlorine to your compost heap.
Brown parchment paper is the best option for your compost heap, but you still need to make sure that you are using the right kind before you just throw it in.
When it comes to choosing the correct brown parchment paper, make sure that it is both unbleached and unwaxed as well. Again, make sure that it hasn’t been treated with chlorine either.
As long as you stick to those parameters, you should have no issues using natural, brown parchment paper in your compost heap. It composts really well too, so you can just add it to your heap and let it work its magic!
Is Parchment Paper Biodegradable?
All paper is actually a plant-based product, so it’s safe to assume that all parchment paper is biodegradable, because it is!
Even the bleached and waxed versions of parchment paper are biodegradable, but they are incredibly bad for the environment, so it is only in your best interest to use the natural, brown variety of parchment paper.
Because parchment paper is a plant-based product, this means that it will break down really easily, which makes it perfect for composting heaps.
How To Compost Parchment Paper
Once you have picked out a suitable brown parchment paper, you might not know how to compost it. But don’t worry! I am here to help!
Parchment paper can take anywhere between 60 to 90 days to break down completely, which might be a bit long if you want to use your compost sooner rather than later.
The reason it takes a bit longer than some other composting items is that the smooth layer on the parchment paper actually acts as a barrier against composting.
It won’t stop the process from happening, but that is why it takes a bit longer.
If you want to speed the process up a bit, the best thing you can do is cut the parchment up into smaller pieces.
This will allow that barrier to break down faster, which in turn, will help the parchment paper break down and compost quicker.
You can cut the parchment paper up by hand, even just ripping it up into smaller pieces will help!
But if you don’t want to do it by hand and you want the pieces to be really small, the best thing you can use is a paper shredder.
Even if you don’t have a paper shredder, you can get them at quite affordable prices, and if you are planning on composting for a long time, they are a great investment!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, parchment paper is definitely compostable, but you have to make sure that you are using the right kind before you just throw it onto the pile.
If you are going to use parchment paper in your compost heap, make sure you use brown parchment paper, and make sure that it is unwaxed and unbleached if you want to be environmentally friendly.
If you want it to break down faster in the compost heap, make sure that you cut it down into smaller, finer pieces!
