Can You Recycle Paper Towels & Napkins?
No
No — fibers are too short and usually soiled
Why
Paper towels are made from fibers already recycled too many times to be useful again, and used ones are contaminated with food, grease, or cleaning products.
How to dispose of paper towels & napkins
- Put used paper towels in the trash
- Compost them if they only touched food or water (no chemicals)
Greener option
Washable cloth rags handle most jobs and cut your paper purchases dramatically.
♻️ Recycling rules vary by city and hauler — when in doubt, check your local program. You can look up your area on our trash & recycling schedules page.