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Delicious biscuits - but how to dispose of baking paper?

Christmas means many baked treats to eat and enjoy - and biscuits are a firm favourite during every holiday season! The run-up to Christmas is the time of year when almost everyone is drawn to the kitchen to conjure up the delicious biscuits in different shapes and variations. Whether butter biscuits, cinnamon stars, or vanilla crescents, everyone has a favourite biscuit to bake and eat. But what no one thinks about at first is the baking paper that we use during the festive season. Where do you throw the paper? Obviously into the waste paper bin, right? Or is it? Don’t be fooled by the name: the "paper" in baking paper does not mean that it should be disposed of in the waste paper bin. It belongs in the residual waste! Here is why.

Disposing of baking paper correctly

In order to figure out which waste bin baking paper belongs in, look at the material. It is coated with Teflon. There is a very simple and plausible reason for this special coating: if it were not coated with it, it would simply stick in the oven during the baking process. The problem, however, is that Teflon is not water-soluble. Unfortunately, this means that it cannot be recycled like normal paper after disposal. In addition, food residues, which are usually found on it, have no place in waste paper. Nevertheless, we have not yet clarified how proper disposal should now be carried out. What do you think?

Residual waste - the right place for used baking paper

Sine baking paper is not recyclable, it belongs in the residual waste. This is where waste ends up for which there is no further use, i.e. which cannot be recycled. The same applies to the disposal of permanent baking paper. This is because it is also coated with Teflon and therefore cannot be recycled like waste paper.

Why baking paper is harmful

Because baking paper cannot be recycled, it is disposed of in the residual waste bin and then incinerated. What is problematic about this is that when Teflon is burnt, toxic substances are produced that are harmful to the environment. Therefore, environmentally conscious consumers should try to save on the use of baking paper. Avoid using too much baking paper if possible - and that can be quite simple! As a rule, baking paper can be used several times before it is disposed of. If the paper is not yet soiled with food residue, it can be used several times or simply turned over. There are also some environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional baking paper, which we at HAILO have listed below.

Ways to avoid large amounts of baking paper waste

During the Christmas season, when one biscuit tray after the other is put into the oven, large amounts of baking paper waste can accumulate fast. An even more environmentally friendly option than using the baking paper several times is to refrain from using it altogether. There are several alternatives.

  • Grease the baking tray:
    Just as you are used to doing with the cake tin, you can do the same with the baking tray. Simply take a pastry brush and grease the tray with margarine, butter or oil.
  • Reusable silicone baking mats:
    Reusable baking mats which are usually made of silicone, are also a good alternative. Once purchased, they can be reused countless times and thus cause much less waste than disposable baking paper.
  • Baking tray with special coating:
    It is practical to get a baking tray with a non-stick coating. Thanks to its coating, it does not usually need to be greased.

Correct waste separation made easy

Yellow sack, waste paper, or residual waste? We at HAILO offer some practical waste separation systems so that you can dispose of your waste easily and correctly. Whether as free-standing models or as practical built-in variants, we are the right contact when it comes to solutions for convenient waste separation. For example, our customers appreciate our stylish pedal bin HAILO Öko duo in various sizes, or our HAILO Öko Vario if you need a little more space.

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