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Northwestern Gardening

okay to add shredded office paper to compost?

gardenerkarin999

15 years ago

I have been adding the contents of my shredder to my compost for the past year, but now am concerned because I just read about how tissue paper and xmas wrapping paper are not recyclable. Is there something in office paper that I should worry about? My compost consists of garden waste, kitchen waste, and seaweed. I use the paper for my dry (carbon) addition. I used to use old hay, but no longer have a source for it.

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Comments (3)

jean001
15 years ago
The guidelines in my area are that tissue paper -- as in gift wrap tissue -- is recyclable whereas tissue -- as in facial and toilet tissue -- aren't.

And gift wrap is fine as long as it's not mylar, metallic, or holographic.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 years ago
I'm not sure why facial or toilet tissue would be excluded - they are eminently compostable, as are paper towels, paper napkins, paper plates and the non-waxed types of paper food containers. Even our local waste recycling service (aka garbage truck pick-up) permits these types of paper products, along with compostable kitchen waste, in the yard waste collection bins that wind up at the municipal compost plant. For best results and speedy decomposition, all paper and cardboard products should be shredded or torn into small pieces before adding to your pile.
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I like using the shredded paper. I use it because it is available to me. Newspaper seems to break down faster, and if given a choice between the two, I would use the newspaper. If you got it, use it. Add about 2/3 pint of water to about a four gallon bucket of shredded paper. Let the paper soak a bit and add a little peat, or dirt, or castings (just a handful)to get the microbials kick-started. Shredded paper will also clump up a little, so I like to keep the top loosened from time to time. Here is a link that might be useful: Vermies.Com
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kristincarol
15 years ago
I have started to put bathroom tissue on the compost heap mainly to keep it out of my septic system. I have always added waxed paper and what few paper towels I use to my bucket. Soiled brown paper sacks and newspapers are great, too.

I cannot understand why kitchen and bathroom paper would not be acceptable except for the negative public opinion/squeemishness aspect.

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