Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute made from the leaves of the stevia plant. Most stevia sticks use paper with an oil-based PE plastic lining. Stevia sticks can be recycled either with dry paper, or commercially composted with food waste where facilities exist. The plant Stevia rebaudiana has been used for more than 1,500 years by the Guaran? peoples of South America, who called it "sweet herb".