Wax paper is used for sealing wax pellets in candle-making.
Although the wax itself can be discarded, the pieces of paper that contain it aren’t as easy to recycle. So, can wax paper be recycled?
Wax paper can’t be recycled because it contains wax, which is a hard substance and it can’t be separated from paper during recycling processes.
This product can only be recycled into fresh wax paper or turned into fuel pellets, which can’t be sold or used commercially.
Can Wax Paper Be Recycled?
Contents
It is not likely that any recycling facility will accept wax paper for recycling.
Because it is biodegradable, its environmental effects could be considered negligible.
Wax paper was originally wax-coated newspaper sheets used to prevent newspaper ink from rubbing off onto other surfaces.
Nowadays, the wax is absorbed into the paper rather than applied as a coating and therefore is hard to separate after it has been used.
Of course, there is a disadvantage to using wax paper as well.
Can You Recycle Wax Paper?
Recycling items in our homes and offices instead of tossing them out is still a good idea.
Because it reduces the amount of waste in landfills and reduces the pollution caused by manufacturing new items from virgin materials.
It is one of the most effective ways of conserving resources and energy.
Many materials can be recycled, but there are a few material types that cannot be recycled at all.
This is unsettling to many people because recycling has been touted as a viable, environmentally responsible alternative to waste and pollution generation.
Especially considering how often people are being told to recycle more and reduce waste in general.
However, the fact is that recycling just a handful of certain types of materials can actually be particularly harmful to the environment.
Many individuals, like you, are confused by conflicting information about what can be recycled.
What Exactly Is Wax Paper?
Wax paper is parchment paper that has a thin coating of wax applied to it.
This makes it water-proof and can be used to keep foods dry or for wrapping gifts.
The bulk of wax paper is covered on one side with a thin layer of wax while a heavier coating of wax is used on the other side.
Soybean oil is also sometimes used as a coating instead of the wax.
Wax sheets made with vegetable or soybean oil are better for foods that are highly acidic, while still retaining the thermal properties of wax paper.
Does Wax Paper Contain Plastic?
Silicon is used to cover a variety of things, including potato chips, yogurt containers and aluminum foils.
It is classified as a sort of plastic itself and is as difficult to recycle as most other forms of plastic.
Silicone possesses properties such as malleability, flexibility, toughness, and inertness that make it a strong candidate for use in food packaging.
Fortunately, silicone is not actually toxic and greatly decreases the likelihood of food contamination while also being resistant to chemical attack by acids and bases.
It is made of a polymer chain that is composed of silicon and oxygen.
Why Can’t Wax Paper Be Recycled?
The wax paper covering is water-resistant, and one can easily tear it into little pieces for disposal.
As a result, it cannot go through the standard paper recycling process, but you can always recycle the paper if you can see through it.
It’s also often coated with grease or oil to make it reusable over and over again.
As a result, it cannot be recycled like other organic materials, such as paper or cardboard.
The wax coating also poses a technological challenge for recycling facilities.
Is Wax Paper Reusable?
To address your question, I would say no, wax paper is not reusable as the waxy coating is made of petroleum oil and is not biodegradable which makes it un-recyclable material.
If you use wax paper to make handmade biscuits or fluffy sugar cookies, for example, all you really need to do is ensure that the wax paper is grease-free by washing it with some soapy water and let it air dry completely before re-use.
Because wax paper is not readily destroyed, I would recommend that you use it only once and then discard it after use.
How to Reuse Wax Paper
Arts and crafts
For activities with the kids, used wax paper can be transformed into tissue box covers (with the help of scissors), or you can make coasters by using aluminum foil as a base and wrapping it around the wax paper.
Create a DIY fire starter
Wrap some dryer lint in discarded wax/plastic wrap in a glass jar.
Loosen a Stuck Zipper
Rub the zipper and zip with a tiny piece of cloth or cotton wool dipped in hot water or lubricant such as Vaseline or olive oil; re-zip to reposition the zipper teeth; repeat as necessary until the zipper.
Lubricate Garden Tools
To help prevent rust and give your garden tools a longer life, you can coat them with paraffin, natural wax or carnauba wax.
Remove Limescale Spots
To remove limescale from stainless steel sink and bathroom tile, wipe it with a cloth dipped in nut butter such as peanut butter or almond butter or olive oil.
Clean and Reuse
If the wax paper was previously used to wrap sandwiches or cakes, you should wash it with soap and water before reusing it to prevent contamination.
Avoid using hot water to clean wax papers since it can soften and melt it.
If wax paper has been used to line the baking sheet, the baking sheet can double up as a mold that can be used to make trinkets such as pencils and pens.
Also Read: Can You Recycle Wet Cardboard?
Conclusion
Wax paper is classified as “mixed paper,” which includes food-contaminated paper, waxed and other oil-based papers, and papers containing wax or other slick materials.
As a result, your wax-paper wrapping is not a recyclable paper.
Those are still the best options for recycling mixed paper products.
In conclusion , wax-paper wrappers cannot be recycled because there are special requirements that must be met before the paper can be salvageable for recycling purposes.
