Most people throw used paper towels into the blue container, i.e. paper waste. This is considered an error because such garbage contains trace amounts of biological substances, such as mucus and bacteria, which make processing difficult in paper mills.
So should they be thrown into the black bin with mixed waste? In some municipalities, regulations on segregation of used paper towels and tissues will change.
According to media and legal reports, from January 1, 2026, there will be a new fraction of bio waste, namely “kitchen bio waste”. In many municipalities, used paper towels and tissues will have to be disposed of in such containers.
The current trend is to meet ever-increasing recycling requirements. The new regulations aim to more effectively segregate waste that is difficult to process. Therefore, owners will be obliged to purchase a special container for such garbage by December 31, 2025.
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Changing regulations are universal. This means that they will not apply throughout the country, but only in some municipalities.
The most popular example is Nowe Miasto nad Warta, which officially divided into two factions. Used paper towels and tissues will have to be placed in an 80-litre bio-container.
Such plans may also apply to other municipalities wanting to increase recycling levels. Before the end of the year, it is worth checking the regulations of your commune to see if there have been any changes regarding the segregation of waste.
Until the new regulations come into force, Let’s throw used paper towels and tissues into mixed waste. We can also store them in a separate container, e.g. in the bathroom. Sometimes it is worth considering home compost, but only if we know what we are putting into it. Otherwise, decomposing this waste will be a problem.
Before the new year, you should check the municipal regulations. If the above changes occur, it will be necessary to purchase a new basket with specific parameters regarding capacity, ventilation and “BIO” color.
First of all, let’s not make the common mistake of throwing used paper towels and tissues into paper waste. This will be against regulations and will make recycling more difficult.
