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How to Recycle Paper Towels & Napkins
Special handlingLast reviewed September 19, 2026
Quick answer
Do not put used paper towels, napkins, or tissues in paper recycling. They are usually too short-fiber and contaminated for a paper mill; use a municipal organics program or home compost when accepted, otherwise place them in the trash. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Special handling
Used paper towels, napkins, tissues, and similar food-service paper that usually belongs in organics or trash rather than mixed-paper recycling.
Where to Recycle
- Municipal organics or green-bin collection that lists napkins and paper towels
- Home compost for plain, uncoated paper where local guidance allows it
- Household trash when no organics route accepts the item
How to Prepare
- 1Remove plastic wrappers, foil, and other packaging
- 2Place clean food-soiled napkins and towels in organics only if your program accepts them
- 3Keep chemical-, oil-, paint-, and bodily-fluid-contaminated paper out of home compost
- 4Do not put loose napkins or towels in a paper-recycling cart
- 5Check whether your local program wants greasy pizza-box sections recycled or composted separately
Special Instructions
The right destination depends on the receiving process. Industrial organics programs may accept food-soiled paper, while backyard compost and municipal programs can be narrower. Compostable packaging is not automatically accepted just because it carries a certification label.
Environmental Impact
Keeping short-fiber, wet, or contaminated paper out of a clean paper bale reduces contamination and protects fiber quality. Composting accepted food-soiled paper can return carbon to an organics process instead of sending it to landfill.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Use washable cloth towels and napkins when practical
- Use the site's food-soiled paper guide for pizza boxes and greasy cardboard
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Not Accepted
- Mixed-paper recycling carts
- Paper towels soaked with cleaners, oil, paint, or chemicals in home compost
- Plastic-lined, waxed, or foil-lined food-service paper unless a specialty program confirms acceptance
FAQs
Can greasy paper towels go in paper recycling?
No. Paper towels and napkins are not a mixed-paper recycling item. Use organics only where your program accepts them; otherwise use the trash.
Are compostable napkins always accepted in green bins?
No. Acceptance depends on the local facility and its contamination rules. Check the local organics list before relying on a compostable label.
Related recycling guides
Recycle paper towels & napkins
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more paper materials.