Can I recycle a used paper napkin?

In most places no, because it is soiled. Check with your city or hauler.

Can I put napkins in my compost?

Plain napkins soiled with food often can go in compost or a food-scrap bin. Check your program's rules.

Is a recycled napkin also recyclable?

Not necessarily. Recycled content describes how it was made, not how it should be disposed of.

Are Paper Napkins Compostable or Recyclable?

Often yes if they are plain paper with only food on them, and usually no for recycling. Soiled napkins are generally not accepted in paper recycling, but many food-scrap and compost programs accept them. Check the label and your local rules.

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Why used napkins are not recycled

Paper recycling programs ask for clean paper. A napkin that has been used with food or grease is contaminated, and the short fibers in tissue paper are also hard to recover. The EPA says recycling rules are set locally, so check with your city or waste hauler.

When composting may work

Plain paper napkins are plant fiber, so many commercial composting programs and some home compost piles accept them when they are soiled only with food. Check what your program says about paper products.

Be careful with printed, coated or heavily dyed napkins, and with napkins soiled by cleaning products, oils from non-food items or other non-compostable materials. If the package states that the napkin is compostable, read the exact wording, since the FTC Green Guides say such a claim should explain if a commercial facility is needed.

Reading the label

Our eco-friendly paper napkins guide explains how to compare napkins by cost per hundred and how to read these labels.

Recycled content: a recycled-content claim tells you what the napkin is made from, and it is not a recyclability claim.
FSC or similar forest certification: this describes how the fiber was sourced, not how the napkin is disposed of.
Unbleached or chlorine-free: these describe processing, so read the exact words.

A reusable option

Cloth napkins avoid the question, and you can wash them with the regular laundry. Compare the cost over a year against the paper you would otherwise buy.

To compare, divide the price of a pack by the number of napkins, and for cloth divide the price by the number of washes you expect to get. Use the maker's stated count and your own use, and do not count a sale price unless you would pay it each time.

If you host often, a small set of cloth napkins for everyday meals and a pack of plain paper napkins for large gatherings is a practical mix. Plain, undyed paper napkins are the easiest kind to send to compost where your program accepts them.

Sources

US EPA guidance on checking local recycling rules
FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification information

Are paper napkins compostable?

At a glance

Why used napkins are not recycled

When composting may work

Reading the label

A reusable option

Sources

Frequently asked questions