Over 226 million Americans use paper plates and cups, thinking they’re making an eco-friendly choice. However, are paper plates recyclable, or are you unintentionally contributing to the landfill?
If the US paper plates and cups market size is expected to reach $22 billion by 2032, is it an acceptable trade-off?
Can Paper Plates Be Recycled? The Short Answer
- Can Paper Plates Be Recycled? The Short Answer
- Why Most Paper Plates Aren’t Recyclable
- How to Tell If Your Paper Plates Are Recyclable
- Brands that Sell Recyclable Paper Plates
- Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Paper Plates
- What to Do Instead of Recycling Paper Plates
- Environmental Impact of Paper Plates
- Conclusion
The answer to this question is yes and no. You can’t recycle paper plates coated with wax or plastic. Not only that, plates contaminated with food residue are also non-recyclable. However, you can recycle uncoated and clean plates.
The best way to be sure of a paper plate’s recyclability is by checking with a local recycling program.
Before we move to the reasons some paper plates are non-recyclable, let’s clear out some common misconceptions:
Misconception #1: All paper plates are recyclable, like any other paper.
Truth: That’s not true. Contamination is the main issue here that allows the recycling of these plates.
Misconception #2: Recyclable and compostable are the same terms.
Truth: No, they are not. Some paper plates are compostable, but they are not recyclable because of their coating, which is made of biodegradable materials.
Misconception #3: If you rinse a paper plate, it becomes recyclable.
Truth: Even a small drop of grease on the plate makes it non-recyclable.
Why Most Paper Plates Aren’t Recyclable
You may consider paper plates to be recyclable because they are made of paper. However, that’s not always the case. Unfortunately, a majority of paper plates cannot be recycled for many reasons, such as contamination from food and coatings and the way these plates are processed.
Here are some major reasons that make paper plates non-recyclable.
Food Contamination
This is one of the significant issues. Similar to paper towels, paper plates are designed to come into direct contact with food. They absorb grease, sauces, and other food residues, making them different from dry and clean paper that recycling facilities process.
When food-soaked paper products such as paper plates are mixed with clean paper in a recycling stream, they end up contaminating the whole batch, resulting in unusable paper. Food particles and oils can seep from paper plates and onto other recyclable paper.
In a recycling process, paper is first broken down into a pulp and then mixed with water. But the grease and oils absorbed by paper plates don’t dissolve in water. As a result, these particles disallow the paper fibers from bonding correctly. This leads to generating poor-quality recycled material.
Plastic & Wax Coatings
Another reason that makes a paper plate non-recyclable is the plastic and wax coatings on it. To make them durable, many manufacturers coat their paper plates with wax and plastic coatings. While the extra treatment makes these plates strong enough to hold grease, it also prevents them from becoming recyclable.
Coated paper is, sadly, difficult to process. Special equipment is required to remove the paper fibers. Specialized machines are expensive, so many recycling plants don’t have them. Therefore, many coated paper plates are sent to landfills instead of a recycling facility.
Recycling Facility Limitations
Even if a paper plate is designed to be completely recyclable, recycling facilities have certain limitations that prevent them from handling these products efficiently. Recycling facilities often use automated systems to sort different materials. However, they find it hard to separate paper plates from other similar waste. It is common for workers and equipment to categorize these plates as trash.
Additionally, there are multiple recycling programs that have paper plates labeled as non-recyclable products. That’s because they don’t have machines to deal with them. Plus, contaminated paper plates are expensive to process. As a result, they end up being discarded.
How to Tell If Your Paper Plates Are Recyclable
Since not all paper plates are created equally, you may have to check properly before separating recyclable ones from non-recyclable ones.
Here is how you can tell if your paper plates are recyclable.
- First, check whether a plate has coatings or linings. You can try tearing the plate to rip it clean. If there is a plastic lining, it will be hard to do so. If a drop of water on the plate beads up, the plate most likely has a coating. A paper plate with a wax layer most probably has a glossy finish.
- To tell if your paper plates are recyclable, consider them for food contamination. Clean plates may be recycled if your recycling facility plans to accept them.
- Some paper plates come with recycling symbols. If your chosen plates do, know that they can be processed. You can also check the manufacturer’s guidelines about the disposable methods of the plates.
- There are different recycling rules for every program. There are multiple municipalities that allow uncoated and clean paper plates for recycling. However, some programs may outright reject them. You can always check the criteria on your local recycling program’s website or speak to a representative via phone.
Brands that Sell Recyclable Paper Plates
Here are some brands that sell top-quality recyclable paper plates. Explore their website to find different options available.
Hefty® EcoSave™
Hefty EcoSave has a large variety of tableware products available. Most of the items are compostable, heavy-duty, microwave-safe, and made with 95% plant-based materials. You can also find some bowls and plates made without added PFAS.
The platform has plates available in sizes 8 3/4″, 10 1/8″ and 10 1/8″. You can also get your hands on large oval platters to be used for multiple food items.
Dixie Ultra®
Dixie Ultra is a one-stop shop where you can get your hands on durable paper plates and bowls. The company stores a large variety of stylish plates available in different sizes to accommodate your dishes. These plates are PFOA-free and PFC-free. They contain approximately 91% compostable cellulose fiber by weight to support sustainability. Although these plates are expensive, you can use them over cheap and non-recyclable plates any day.
Repurpose
Repurpose is home to non-toxic and green products. All the items sold by the company are plant-based, compostable, upcycled, non-toxic, and durable. Plus, they do not have any PFAS added.
Repurpose’s products have a comparatively lower carbon footprint than many other non-compostable items. Materials like corn, sugar cane, and wood pulp are used to create the brand’s compostable products.
When it comes to plates, you can find a large variety of options. Both round and square plates are available. The size range is between 6 and 10 inches. If you want to save on your Repurpose purchases, you can buy the plates in the form of two or three packs.
World Centric®
Do you want to stock top-quality paper plates for dinner or a picnic? In that case, you can get your hands on World Centric® plates that are made from sustainable, unbleached plant fiber. Plus, there is no added PFAS.
These plates come in a wide assortment of sizes and shapes. You can trust them to be durable and freezer-safe. They are also grease and moisture-resistant.
All the plates manufactured by World Centric successfully meet ASTM standards for commercial composting. This means that they help in reducing waste. Besides, unlike traditional disposable plates, these are safe and non-toxic.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Paper Plates
While paper plates are convenient to use for picnics and parties, they often end up in landfills due to their plastic coatings and food contamination. This makes these paper plates unsustainable.
If you care for the environment and are looking for eco-friendly alternatives to paper plates, here is a list for you.
Reusable Plates
As a responsible earthling, you must focus on eliminating disposable products from your life. Invest in reusable cookware, often made from ceramic, glass, or stainless steel. These plates are not just durable and long-lasting but are fully recyclable. However, you may have to wash them regularly to maintain them.
Compostable Plates
You can also choose to invest in 100% compostable plates made from bamboo or palm leaves. The best thing about such plates is that they break down naturally, making them an eco-friendly option. They are also much sturdier than paper plates. However, they may cost you more than the latter.
Biodegradable Plastic Plates
Do you know that there are some plates made from starch, potato, or corn? They look quite like plastic plates but break down quite quickly. They are also much more durable than plastic plates. But they may require special composting conditions to break.
Edible Plates
Often made from rice or wheat bran, edible plates are fully biodegradable and are safe to eat. Yes, you can eat them with your food. They are completely natural plates and hence generate zero food waste. However, they are not as easily available as the other options mentioned above.
What to Do Instead of Recycling Paper Plates
Suppose you don’t have any option other than to use a paper plate. But then you also know that they are mostly non-recyclable, and you don’t want to add their waste to the landfills.
In that case, you can do the following instead of recycling paper plates and play your part in keeping the environment safe.
Composting Paper Plates
This is the best disposable option for uncoated plates.
- Look for plates that are mentioned as compostable.
- After using them, scrape off any excess food from them.
- Now, cut the plate into small pieces.
- Put the pieces in a compost bin.
- Wait for the plate to decompose. It may take two to six months, as per the conditions.
Upcycling Paper Plates
If you want to be creative, you can upcycle your paper plates rather than discard them as waste.
- Clean your plate properly.
- Pick your upcycling idea. You can use the plates to make masks or decoration pieces. You can also use the plate as a tray to keep dry pet food instead of throwing it away immediately.
- Decorate your paper plate as per the use case so it can be used for a long time.
Proper Disposal of Paper Plates
If the above two options are not your cup of tea, you can opt for a proper disposal of these plates.
- First, determine if the plate is a landfill waste.
- Discard the coated and greasy plates in the trash.
- You can also dispose of the plates in general waste if composting isn’t a reasonable option available.
- Make sure that you consider using other safe alternatives to paper plates the next time.
Environmental Impact of Paper Plates
We can’t reinforce the proper disposal of paper plates enough because of the environmental impact they cause. These plates contribute to pollution and resource depletion since they are made of trees.
Plus, they can’t be recycled. This results in them landing in landfills and creating additional problems such as landfill overflows and incineration pollution if burnt.
Paper plates with plastic coatings are non-biodegradable, contributing to long-term pollution. Besides, when coated plates break down over time, they release microplastics in the air, which isn’t healthy for any living creature.
Plastic papers do more damage than good. Therefore, the next time you consider buying them, go through this article to make a better choice.
Conclusion
Now that you have understood all about disposable paper plates, will you buy them? If you choose to, ensure that they are disposed of properly. Alternatively, you can upcycle them so they don’t contribute to landfill waste and pollution.
However, if you think that paper plates don’t deserve your money, we recommend you opt for the multiple options in this article. You can also act smart and invest in high-quality plates that stay durable for a long time. These plates are expensive but can help you contribute to a safer planet!
