Vermicomposting paper towels
Unprinted and non-greasy paper towels are excellent and even essential material for your Bonter vermicomposter. They serve as absorbent bedding, improve air circulation, and provide much-needed carbon (‘brown’ material) for a healthy composting process. An indispensable and easy-to-add component for a balanced worm bin.
Can paper towels go in your worm bin?
Yes, absolutely! Provided they are unprinted and non-greasy, paper towels are very suitable for your worm bin. They are perfect for absorbing excess moisture from food scraps, which helps maintain the correct humidity level and prevents anaerobic conditions (and thus unpleasant odours). In addition, they provide ‘brown’ material (carbon) needed to balance the ‘green’ (nitrogen-rich) food waste, which is essential for a good balance in the bin. Clean paper towels also improve the structure and aeration of the compost.
How many paper towels can you add?
Paper towels can be added regularly and in generous quantities to your Bonter, preferably shredded. It is important to keep an eye on the ratio between ‘green’ (food) and ‘brown’ (carbon, such as paper towels, cardboard, paper) material. A good guideline is to add as much, if not more, brown material as green material. Especially add extra paper towels or other dry, brown material if you add a lot of moist food scraps (such as fruit or wet vegetables). They act like a sponge for your bin!
What to do instead? Alternatives & waste management
Unprinted, non-greasy paper towels are so suitable and useful for the Bonter that you should best use them for that purpose! They are perfect as bedding and structural material. If for any reason you have large quantities of clean paper waste, shredded newspaper (without coloured ink), cardboard egg cartons, or unprinted paper can also serve excellently as ‘brown’ material and an alternative to paper towels. Avoid throwing away clean, unprinted paper towels with residual waste; they are valuable carbon for your compost. Dirty or greasy paper towels must go with the residual waste.
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Tips for composting paper towels
Tear or cut paper towels into smaller pieces before adding them. This increases the surface area and speeds up decomposition by worms and microbes. Make sure the paper towels get wet in the bin (for example, by mixing them with moist food scraps or burying them under moist waste), as dry paper composts slowly. Mix the paper towels well with the waste and the existing bedding. Always ensure that the paper towels you add are unprinted and non-greasy; greasy or chemically contaminated paper towels are not suitable for the worm bin and must go with the residual waste. The Bonter has an air filter, but a good balance with sufficient brown material prevents most odours at the source.
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Frequently asked questions about vermicomposting paper towels
Can I put all types of paper towels in the worm bin?
No, only unprinted and non-greasy paper towels are suitable. Paper towels with print, grease stains, or residues of cleaning agents are unsuitable and must go with the residual waste.
Should I tear or cut paper towels before adding them?
How many paper towels should I add?
Do paper towels serve as food or as bedding/structure?
What do I do with dirty or greasy paper towels?
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