Is Wax Paper Compostable Or Not?

As we strive to live more sustainably, reducing waste by promoting eco-friendly practices becomes increasingly important. This concern is not limited to the government but people are now striving to make their living standards eco-friendly because ecological decline is becoming out of hand. In 2019, about 76% of households in Canada composted their kitchen or yard waste and more surprisingly, even having busy schedules 22% continued to participate in environmentally-engaged activities.

So, this concern continues to grow in the future and establish a regular habit among people. One thing that comes to the mind of people, especially women, is to upgrade their kitchen to be more environmentally friendly. A common product that is a trusted kitchen ally for cooking, baking, preserving and presenting your food is waxed paper. But have you ever thought can wax paper be composted? I had the same question but now that I know the truth behind it, this blog is curated to help you conclude. An ultimate guide on which types of wax sheets are compostable and which are not and a little bit of compositing process to facilitate you are explained below:

A Short Note On What Is Composting

Here is a short paragraph to shed light on what composting specifically means for people who want to stay biodegradable but are confused:

Composting is a natural (or biological) process which includes sustaining the soil’s health by the decomposition of organic materials. This process helps to reduce waste and conserves water as well as energy. You can connect composting to your kitchen in a variety of ways as it will help save money and support healthy consumption of food. Here’s a list of things you can put in the compost bin inside your kitchen:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Pasta
• Bread and cereals
• Dairy products and eggshells
• Muffin wrappers
• Cooking oil
• Paper plates
• Wooden sticks (ice cream sticks, chopsticks)
• Tissue paper

Can You Compost Wax Paper?

Have you noticed why the custom wax paper is not mentioned in the above compostable items? It’s because I wanted to save the surprise for you. Let’s come to our main concern without wasting further time. The most awaited answer is neither yes nor no because it depends on various factors. A lot of versatile papers are available in the market with different specifications. So people who want to know is waxed paper compostable or not, here you can find the explanation:

Traditional wax papers (non-compostable)

Traditional wax wraps are wax-coated papers having synthetic additives which makes it difficult for them to decompose. A list of traditional wax sheets is following:

Paraffin Wax Paper

Paraffin is basically petroleum-based paper which makes it not suitable for composting. This sheet is commonly used as waxpaper for food, packaging and baking as well. One more reason why these are inappropriate for composting is that they release harmful chemicals when burned.

Synthetic Wax Paper

Synthetic wax paper is also a type of traditional which can not be composted. The wax coating like polyethene makes it unsuitable for recycling. Synthetic paper is commonly used in lining surfaces and packaging goods.

Bleached Wax Paper

Bleached wax paper is also not suitable for compostability because they are treated with other chemicals. It may be moisture-resistant but if you want a recyclable option then bleached paper is not an ideal choice.

Biodegradable Wax Paper (Compostable)

What do you think is wax paper biodegradable or not? Yes, some of them are liable to rot while the others which are coated with chemicals are not. Want a surprising fact about sustainability? 70% of Canadian people choose foods that are made with sustainable production. So due to rising concerns, businesses are also moving rapidly toward sustainable packaging solutions. 

Biodegradable wax paper is the best alternative to traditional ones. They are compostable and can be easily broken down naturally into the environment. Most of the food business owners also prefer these waxpaper for restaurants to meet the social as well as environmental standards. Here are some biodegradable personalised wax papers for you to choose from if want a compostable outcome:

Soy Wax Paper

Soy wax sheets are made from wax that is extracted from plants. This type of sheet is usually derived from soybeans which makes them nature-friendly. Soy-based paper is not only biodegradable but also non-toxic making it the most preferred choice for baking or wrapping food items. This type of paper can be composted into small quantities by tearing it into small pieces.

Beeswax Sheets

Beeswax is coated with organic beeswax just as its name gives an idea. Whenever you see the shade of your paper getting lighter and no longer usable, you can compost it accordingly. This type of paper contains antibacterial properties and you can compost it when uncolored and unscented.

Carnauba Wax Sheets

Carnauba paper is commonly used for paper coatings. The extraction from natural palm trees makes composting possible for this paper. Unlike bleached ones, Carnauba sheets are unbleached and harmless. These are widely used for the preparation and wrapping of food.

Process Of Composting Wax Paper

We have discussed wax paper but do you think is wax compostable? It depends on the type of wax. Now you have gained insights into which wax papers can be composted and which are not, here is a thorough process of how to compost them. However, the process of compostability can vary according to the type of paper:

Shredding

Shredding makes the process of decomposition faster as wax paper is shredded into smaller pieces.

Mixing With Organic Material

You can mix the shredded pieces with organic materials like dry leaves or newspaper and water also to maintain moisture. 

Creating A Compost Pile

In this step, you can create a compost pile where you can prepare a base, add a layer of materials to be composed and incorporate a nitrogen source to start decomposition.

Maintain Compost Conditions

You need to ensure some elements during composting for a smooth process. Maintain temperature to 54 °C – 60 °C and also keep in mind the moisture.

Monitoring Decomposition

In this step, you should check for the disintegration of wax paper and also keep a log of the physical appearance of compost.

Finishing The Compost

The time of decomposition can range from two weeks to two years. After checking that your compost is fully ready, you can use the finished outcomes in gardening or landscaping. 

Final Thoughts

About 97% of the Canadian people reported using hand-made sustainable bags for grocery shopping. It’s a huge amount of people, right? Now as a responsible human being, it should be our priority to maintain sustainability over anything. Consider using products that can be composted efficiently. Waxpapers offers biodegradable wax paper without pinching your pockets. Be kind not only to your loved ones but also to your planet as well!