# What's greener: lining a pan with aluminum foil or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316 "2018-05-16T23:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/41 "2018-05-19T23:16:37Z")
Since when? ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/42 "2018-05-20T04:49:27Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Since when? That was an exclusive we, not inclusive. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/43 "2018-05-20T23:16:44Z")
ISTM that recycling aluminum foil used in cooking (i.e., with food material still stuck to it) is likely to attract insects and other pests to wherever you’re storing it. That’s one reason I’ve never bothered to recycle foil. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/44 "2018-05-20T23:18:51Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > ISTM that recycling aluminum foil used in cooking (i.e., with food material still stuck to it) is likely to attract insects and other pests to wherever you’re storing it. That’s one reason I’ve never bothered to recycle foil. Wouldn’t those same insects be attracted to wherever you are throwing the foil away? ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/45 "2018-05-21T09:09:48Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Wouldn’t those same insects be attracted to wherever you are throwing the foil away? In our house, trash goes in plastic trash bag inside a lidded can in the kitchen. Recycling goes in an open crate in the garage. I assume most people don’t put recycling in sealed cans or plastic bags. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/46 "2018-05-21T19:57:38Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > In our house, trash goes in plastic trash bag inside a lidded can in the kitchen. Recycling goes in an open crate in the garage. I assume most people don’t put recycling in sealed cans or plastic bags. Do you clean all of your cans/bottles before putting them into the recycle bin? I know that some people do, but I’m not one of those people. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/47 "2018-05-22T16:38:36Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Do you clean all of your cans/bottles before putting them into the recycle bin? I know that some people do, but I’m not one of those people. Yes, I rinse them out first. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/48 "2018-05-22T17:08:46Z")
“Which is greener” can be difficult to answer. When my brother’s son was gestating (he is 27 now) my brother obsessed over how best (in a green sense) to diaper the kid. He had two alternatives he was considering; disposable diapers or cloth diapers and a diaper service. Turns out the water/detergent used to launder cloth diapers was a huge negative, but disposables going into landfill was no picnic either. I forget what he eventually decided. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316/49 "2018-05-29T02:19:35Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I’d appreciate it if you and others would refrain from making random sexist comments. Thank you. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why would anyone possibly care what you would appreciate??? **Moderator Note** Please refrain from junior modding. No warnings issued, but don’t take swipes at other posters. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-greener-lining-a-pan-with-aluminum-foil-or-not/814316.md?page=2)