Most paper towels can go in compost, but some won't break down

Plain paper towels made from wood pulp will compost. They break down in a few months to a year depending on moisture, temperature, and how finely shredded they are. The catch: many paper towels sold today contain chemicals, coatings, or synthetic fibres that slow decomposition or don't break down at all.

The deciding factor is what the manufacturer added during production. Bleach, dyes, wet-strength resins, and plastic fibres are common. A paper towel that feels soft and holds together when wet almost certainly contains something that will linger in your finished compost. If the package doesn't list the contents, assume it has additives.

Your best move is to check the label before buying, or test a small amount in your pile first. If the towel disintegrates within a few weeks of being buried in moist compost, it's safe to add the rest. If it stays intact, it belongs in the trash.

Key Takeaways

  • Unbleached, undyed paper towels made only from wood pulp will compost within a few months to a year.
  • Bleached white paper towels, coloured paper towels, and towels labeled "super absorbent" or "wet-strength" contain additives that slow or prevent decomposition.
  • Recycled paper towels are often safer than virgin paper because manufacturers skip some chemical treatments, but check the label anyway.
  • Shred paper towels into smaller pieces before adding them to speed up breakdown and prevent clumping.
  • If you're unsure, bury a test piece in your compost pile for two to three weeks — if it's still recognizable, don't add more.

What makes paper towels break down or resist decomposition

Paper towels are cellulose — the same material that makes up leaves and grass clippings. Microorganisms in compost eat cellulose readily. The problem is everything else mixed in.

Bleach is the most common additive. It whitens the paper and kills bacteria on the surface, which sounds useful but actually slows compost. The chlorine compounds persist and can inhibit the microbes you need to break things down. Unbleached paper towels skip this step entirely.

Wet-strength resins are synthetic polymers added so the towel doesn't fall apart when wet. These are designed not to break down easily — that's the whole point. They linger in compost for years. Any towel that stays intact when soaked has these resins.

Dyes and inks used for colour or printing may contain heavy metals or synthetic compounds. Natural dyes break down faster, but most commercial colours do not. If the towel is white, it was bleached. If it's coloured, it was dyed.

Plastic fibres are sometimes woven in for strength. These never compost. Check the label for words like "reinforced" or look closely at the texture — if you see thin threads running through it, those may be plastic.

Paper towel brands and what they contain

Most major brands — Bounty, Scott, Viva, Sparkle — are bleached and contain wet-strength resins. They will not compost in a home pile. Some will eventually break down in industrial composting facilities that reach higher temperatures, but that's not the same as home compost.

Unbleached options exist but are less common in regular grocery stores. Look for brands that explicitly say "unbleached" and "no wet-strength additives" on the package. Some health food stores and online retailers carry them. Seventh Generation makes an unbleached option. If the label doesn't mention bleach or additives, contact the manufacturer before buying.

Recycled paper towels are sometimes safer because the recycling process removes some coatings, but recycled paper can also contain inks and dyes from the original printed material. Again, check the label. "Recycled" does not automatically mean "compostable."

How to prepare paper towels for your compost pile

Tear or cut the towels into pieces roughly 2 to 4 inches across. Smaller pieces expose more surface area to moisture and microbes, which speeds decomposition. Large sheets can clump together and create dry pockets that resist breakdown.

Mix shredded paper towels with wet materials — food scraps, grass clippings, manure — rather than layering them alone. Paper is carbon-rich and needs nitrogen-rich material nearby to decompose efficiently. A ratio of roughly three parts carbon to one part nitrogen works well.

Bury the pieces in the middle of the pile where it's warmest and most moist, not on the surface. Surface pieces dry out and decompose much more slowly. If your pile is cool or dry, paper towels may sit unchanged for months.

When paper towels don't belong in compost

Paper towels used to clean up grease, oil, or chemical spills should never go in compost. The contaminants persist and can make the finished compost unsafe for food gardens. Throw these in the trash.

Paper towels used to wipe up pet waste also belong in the trash, not compost. Even if the towel itself is compostable, the pathogens in the waste can survive home composting temperatures.

If you've used a paper towel to dry meat or fish, it's safer to trash it. The bacteria can survive and spread to your compost pile. Some home composters do include these, but it requires careful management of temperature and moisture.

Alternatives to paper towels for composting

If you compost regularly and want to avoid the guessing game, switch to cloth towels or rags for everyday use. Old cotton t-shirts, flour sack towels, and linen napkins all work. Wash and reuse them, and compost them only when they're truly worn out — which takes years.

For single-use situations, look for compostable paper products certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or similar bodies. These are designed to break down in both home and industrial compost. They cost more but eliminate the uncertainty. Check the package for a BPI logo or certification statement.

Some people keep a separate container for paper scraps and shred them by hand or in a food processor before adding to compost. This gives you control over what goes in and ensures smaller pieces that decompose faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I compost paper towels with food on them?

Yes, if the food is plant-based — vegetable scraps, fruit, grains, coffee grounds. The food and the paper both compost together. If the towel has meat, dairy, or oil on it, trash it instead. These attract pests and can introduce pathogens that home compost doesn't reach hot enough to kill.

Do white paper towels compost if they're unbleached?

Unbleached paper towels are naturally off-white or tan, not bright white. If a paper towel is pure white, it was bleached. Some manufacturers use oxygen-based bleach instead of chlorine, which breaks down faster, but the label will say so. When in doubt, assume white means chlorine bleach.

How long does it take paper towels to fully compost?

Unbleached, uncoated paper towels typically break down within three to twelve months in an active compost pile with good moisture and temperature. Shredded pieces decompose faster than whole sheets. In a cold or dry pile, it can take a year or longer. Bleached or treated towels may take several years or never fully break down in home compost.

Will paper towels in compost attract rats or insects?

Paper towels alone don't attract pests. If the towel has food residue on it, that can. Bury paper towels in the middle of the pile rather than leaving them on top, and mix them with other materials so they're not exposed. This reduces the smell that draws rodents and flies.

Can I put paper towels in a worm bin?

Unbleached, uncoated paper towels can go in a worm bin, but shred them first into very small pieces. Worms process material more slowly than a hot compost pile, so large pieces may sit unchanged for months. Avoid bleached or treated towels — the chemicals can harm the worms.