Can You Compost Parchment Paper?

Can I Compost Parchment Paper? The answer to this question may vary depending on the type of Parchment Paper. The brown parchment paper is biodegradable and hence we can compost it. However, white Parchment Paper should need proper recycling because you cannot break it down easily.

This kitchen guide will prevent you from wasting excessive parchment paper and provide complete details about composting and disposing of it. In addition, we will explain which parchment paper is best brown or white, by discussing their pros and cons. So, stay tuned for full information about composting parchment paper.

Is Parchment Paper Compostable

There are different types of parchment papers; some are compostable, and others are non-compostable. If you have simple, unbleached, and unwaxed parchment paper, you can compost it easily without any problem. If your parchment paper is chlorine bleached and has added wax, you need to prevent composting these papers. 

Usually, composting is every gardener’s favorite thing to do. Most of the time, people like to consider what they are composting and need to ensure that they are composting something beneficial. You cannot compost everything, you need to ensure that the thing you are composting is worth composting, and there are some rules about composting. 

So, it’s necessary to consider the type, benefits, and drawbacks of parchment paper you want to compost. There are some key factors to monitor even while composting unbleached parchment paper. 

What Is Parchment Paper

Parchment paper has different names, such as waxed paper, baking paper, butter paper, and greaseproof paper. All these names indicate the same product: parchment paper. This product is smooth to feel and touch, and you might feel a little waxy while touching it. All these papers have the same use, you can name them anything. 

The functions of the parchment paper are also the same, you can put it on the baking dish before adding the wet, unbaked mixture or to the dish before adding the food to the baking oven. This parchment paper is a barrier and a layer between the food and the container or dish. It helps prevent the food from sticking to the surface.

Parchment paper has a unique characteristic: it is heat resistant and can ensure a high temperature of a few hundred in the oven. It is one of the best alternatives to make the baking dish non-stick and grease the whole dish’s surface oily and greasy. 

There are two types of parchment papers available in the market:

• White parchment paper has bleach treatment, which is white because it contains bleach. 
• Brown parchment paper contains a waxy surface with no bleach coating on it.

Is Parchment Paper Biodegradable

Parchment paper is a biodegradable and compostable product as it contains a plant-based product. All the parchment papers in the market are biodegradable; you can compost them, but not all are environmentally friendly. These parchment papers easily break down, as every plant-based product does. 

Some papers involve chemicals, and you must ensure that the type of chemical the product has is not harmful to your soil before composting it. If the parchment paper has chemical reactions, there is a chance that they have negative consequences and effects.

What Types of Parchment Paper Can Be Composted

There are different types of parchment papers; some with chlorine coating, while others include bleach or white color. There is a chance that some of the bleach remains in the paper, and when you compost the pile, it sticks out to damage the soil. Chlorine-based bleach releases harmful chemicals such as dioxins that break down along with the parchment paper and release harmful microbes in the compost pile.

These microbes slow down the whole composting process. Some final composting materials might contain dioxins, if you feed these to the plant, they can die or become damaged. These dioxins can damage the plant’s health if they enter the water supplies and other food products. Some parchment papers are compostable if you do not use chlorine or any other bleaching agent.

If your paper is free of all chemicals, you can compost it without any problem. When you enter the market to buy a new parchment, companies mention the bleaching agent and other chemical reactors on the paper. You can check the ingredients and then decide on the type of material you need for composting. 

There are other parchment papers as well, some with a waxy substance, while others have a thin layer of silicone on the paper. If your parchment paper has wax in it, you prevent composting it as the waxed paper will have microbes in the compost. In addition, it is not possible to break down the paper’s waxy layer, mainly if the layer consists of silicone.

Suppose you want to compost parchment paper. Use unwaxed and unbleached paper. This untreated and non-chemicalized parchment paper is the most suitable option for composting. When buying from the market, you can use the correct type of parchment paper and bring only compostable material for your garden.

Compostable Parchment Paper Sheets

Compostable Parchment Paper Sheets are good and eco-friendly options. Composting non-chemicalized parchment paper is one of the best options as it does not contain toxic chemicals hazardous to the open air. The production of these sheets is from plant-based materials, which are easily broken down later by microorganisms in compost piles.

Hence, they reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil amendments for your garden or plants. There is hype about addressing environmental issues, so you must ensure you are not using anything that harms the environment. When people around you are taking care of the environment, you must have to play your part by only buying biodegradable and compostable waste.

How To Compost Parchment Paper

Composting parchment paper is relatively easy but takes much time to break down. Composting parchment paper can take almost 60 to 90 days to decompose. Here is the complete way to compost parchment paper:

1. Identification of the Paper Type

Must ensure that the paper you are going to compost has an unbleached surface and is brown. Because white or bleached parchment paper contains wax and bleach components, that are harmful to the compost.

2. Preparing the Parchment Paper

Prepare the parchment paper for composting by first removing the left food residues and particles from it. As the parchment paper takes longer to decompose so, tear it into smaller pieces for faster decomposition. You can use a heavy-duty shredder or cutter when dealing with huge amounts of parchment paper. 

3. Balancing the Composting Materials

For successful Composting, a balance of green and brown materials in 4:1 is necessary. So, ensure the balance of green, as the brown parchment paper provides only carbon to your compost pile. So do add healthy green in the form of food waste like vegetables, fruits, and leaves.

4. Add and Maintain the Compost Pile

Now, add the shredded parchment paper in smaller quantities to your compost pile along with the other green materials. Must ensure the aeration and proper moisture of your compost pile. Regularly turn your compost with a fork or shovel to promote air circulation. In addition, monitor your compost pile regularly to check the successful composting process.

Advantages Of Composting Parchment Paper

Composting parchment paper has many advantages, such as being more sustainable and quickly adding it to the home compost pile. Some residues are still left after composting the parchment paper. If your parchment paper is clean and there are no chemical additives, you can compost it, which is 100% biodegradable.

Parchment paper is helpful in improving the structure and drainage of your soil leading to the healthy growth of plants. If you have brown parchment paper, they are perfect for composting as they are natural and easily broken down.

If you are looking for a plant-based product to compost, there is nothing better than finding natural and non-chemicalized parchment paper. You can compost this paper outdoors in the bin or the home compost pile. Parchment papers are eco-friendly, and when you compost them, there is no harm.

Drawbacks Of Composting Parchment Paper

Some parchment papers are unsuitable for composting if treated with chemicals and other acids. If your parchment paper is white, it’s treated with a chlorine-bleaching agent; this paper is harmful to compost. Parchment Paper even in shredded form takes a longer time to decompose as compared to many other softer scrapes of the kitchen.

Uncleaned parchment paper attracts rodents or flies to your compost pile on composting. They take longer to decompose due to small space and slow breakdown rate. The composting of parchment paper requires daily monitoring to ensure moisture and aeration in the compost pile.

Conclusion

Parchment paper although an eco-friendly kitchen ally. However, its few types are good enough to use as a compostable material. Brown or unbleached Parchment Paper promotes composting and is a good biodegradable material. This guide holds all important information related to the process, pros and cons, and useful types of parchment paper for composting. So, read until the end and become an informed gardener.

FAQs

1. Can Parchment Paper be Composted?

A few types of parchment paper are compostable with unbleached surfaces. However, some parchment papers have a silicone or wax coating on them, and this covering makes them offensive for the composting procedure. 

2. How Long Does It Take for Parchment Paper to be Biodegradable?

Parchment papers usually take 30 to 90 days to biodegrade completely; this time, it is essential to decompose the smooth outer layer of the parchment paper. The outer layer has wax or silicon that decomposes for a long time. While the inner layers are soft, when the outer layer decomposes, the inner becomes easily accessible for the bacteria to decompose. 

3. Can Parchment Paper Go in Recycling?

Parchment papers contain silicon and another coating that makes it hard to decompose, so you cannot recycle parchment paper. If you have non-chemicalized and non-reacted parchment paper, you can recycle it quickly, and it is 100% biodegradable.

4. What Is an Eco-Friendly Alternative to Parchment Paper?

Silicone baking mats are the best eco-friendly alternative to parchment papers, and you can use them in baking. They are highly heat-resistant and food-grade papers. They are straightforward to clean, and you can use them repeatedly. No chemical additives exist in these parchment papers, so you can recycle them efficiently. Adding them to the green bin is the best way to recycle the silicone baking mats. 

5. What type of Parchment Paper not useful for Composting?

Colored, bleached, or glossy parchment paper, and parchment paper with chlorine are not suitable for composting. Because the coatings on their surface prevent the effective breakdown of paper in compost piles.