Teabags contain about 25% plastic. These plastics do not just pose gradual damages to the body. They are also a bad option for the environment because you can neither recycle nor compost them. Also, these teabags contain plastic that cannot fully break down after disposal.
There are several ways to dispose of your used tea bags. Overall, to help prevent greenhouse gas emissions from tea bags rotting in landfill, then the best thing to do is place tea bags in your food or garden waste collection, if you have one in your area.
A spokesperson from Unilever, the makers of leading brand PG Tips, says: “Our PG tips pyramid bags are mostly made of paper with a small amount of plastic which is used to seal the tea bag. These tea bags are suitable for composting and can either be recycled in home compost bins or added to food waste collections.”
Twinings We are working with care to make the way we package our drinks more sustainable. Our aim is for all of our packaging to be reusable, recyclable and make our tea bags compostable by 2025, while increasing the recycled content in our packaging.
Loose leaf tea and paper tea bags are great for composting but be aware that some tea bags do contain plastic. These bags will have a glossy sheen and slippery feel and can't go into the green bin. Before placing tea bags into your green or compost bin, also be sure to remove any staples or labels.
The process of recovery and recycling of plastics in marine and terrestrial ecosystems will continue as a part of Dilmah Conservation/ecosystem restoration programme even after Dilmah achieves 100% compostable material in its manufacturing process.
Pukka – their teabags are folded and stitched together with the use of organic cotton along with a unique folding process. They're plastic-free and can go straight into your compost! Nature's Cuppa Organic – Eatrite Australasia Pty Ltd (the manufacturer) also provides plastic-free tea bags here in Australia.
Lipton Green Decaf, Chai and Herbal (traditional tea bags) are made from Manilla hemp, cellulose and thermoplastic fibres. They are not compostable or recyclable.
Many makes of tea bags, even the organic brands, often include a small amount of polypropylene, which helps with the sealing and tying of the bag. This will not break down in the domestic compost heap, and indeed particles will remain even after commercial 'green waste' composting.
Twinings. Twinings have several different types of teabags available on the market. They say that “our standard teabags, used for Earl Grey and English Breakfast, to name a couple, and many of our infusions and Green teas are produced from a natural plant-based cellulose material and contain no plastic in the fibres.
You can improve your garden with Tea Bags as fertilizer, Growing Seedlings, Repel Pests, Give roses a boost, Food For Earthworms, or use for compost. Best fertilizer for Houseplants, ferns, blueberry, blackberries and other acid-loving plants.
If they're hot when they go into the bin, they make condensation on the inside of the bin lid. So yes, they need to sit on the spoon rest and dry off / cool down a bit first. We've got a little pot by the kettle for teabags to go in before the compost bin.
As mentioned, tea bags do not expire. Neither does loose leaf tea. Dry tea leaves and bags are typically good for a whopping two years before quality starts rolling down a hill. All teas made from the camellia sinensis plant, whether green or black teas, will begin to lose their flavor over time [3].
The caffeine in the teas may also constrict the blood vessels in the tissue around your eyes and reduce inflammation. Green tea may be slightly better than black tea to reduce swollen and inflamed eyes, but either will work. You can use the tea bags as a warm or cold compress to treat swelling under the eyes as well.
Plant feed: Used tea bags double as a handy fertilizer because of their tannic acid, which in turn foster increased nitrogen levels. Many plants, including roses and potted plants, will benefit from the elevated levels, so mix or spread those steeped tea leaves right onto the soil.
If your local council provides a food waste collection service where you live, you can dispose of food waste in your food bin, including tea bags.
Today tea bags are also being made 100% biodegradable which has brought them back into the limelight. Another great fact about tea bags is that they can also be reused once more. We suggest to reuse the tea bags just one more time, or else the tea will become too weak.
Paper – The paper used in standard tea bags is fully compostable. String – The string used in standard tea bags is fully compostable. Staple – The staple that secures the paper tag to the string is not. Adhesive – The adhesive used to heat-seal the edge of the paper tea bag is not compostable.
Steeped tea bags and leaves are an excellent source of organic material for your compost bin. Tea leaves are naturally rich in nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen, which can help counterbalance the carbon-rich materials in your compost heap.
Now all of Aldi's own brand tea – including decaffeinated, and fruit and herbal infusions are made from PLA – so are industrially compostable.
By now, we're confident you're aware plastic isn't biodegradable, so it's the last item that should be found in your compost pile. So, you can't compost Tetley tea bags because of this small addition. But again, this brand is currently working on tea bags that'll be compostable and eco-friendly.
Teabag & tag
Our teabag filter paper is made of natural fibres, meaning it's 100% plastic free, biodegradable and compostable.
Many tea bags contain plastic. The alternative, Polylactic Acid (PLA), can contain material from genetically modified sources. PLA teabags should go into council food waste, as they won't break down in most home composting conditions.