In NSW, you generally cannot put loose shredded paper in your yellow recycling bin as it clogs machinery, but many councils allow it if contained in a paper bag or cardboard box; check your specific council's guide, but common alternatives are composting, using as animal bedding, or the red landfill bin.
Most types of paper can be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin. This includes: Paper. Shredded paper (must be contained within a cardboard box or large paper envelope)
Guidance. There are two ways to recycle shredded paper: You can put it in a paper envelope and then put it in with your household recycling. This is so that it doesn't blow around everywhere when picked up or go everywhere in the recycling facility.
In Australia, you generally can't put loose shredded paper in your yellow-lidded recycling bin as it's too small and contaminates the stream; instead, use it in your green FOGO/compost bin, put it in a paper bag or envelope before the yellow bin (check local rules!), use it as pet bedding or garden mulch, or dispose of it in the red landfill bin if other options aren't available.
Ways to reuse shredded paper
Loose shredded paper can slip through the paper separator when recycled, so pack it into a paper bag and staple shut. Shredded paper is compostable as long as it's not colored or glossy. If you are adding a lot of shredded paper to your home compost pile, add some grass to lower the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.
Small amounts of shredded paper can be placed in your blue recycling bag. We recommend containing this in a paper bag or envelope. Large amount of shredded paper can be put in your brown bin or home composter.
Shredded Paper is good for your plants. This will help retain soil moisture, restrict weed growth, maintain optimal soil temperature and improve fertility in general.
Neglecting Recycling
This means your shredded documents end up in the landfill rather than being recycled, harming the environment. To prevent this, opt for a shredding provider with eco-friendly practices.
You can't easily recycle shredded paper in regular bins because the small pieces fall through sorting machinery, get lost, contaminate other recyclables, or become litter, but it is recyclable if contained in a sealed paper bag or box for specialized collection programs or drop-off, as the fibers are valuable but need specific handling to prevent jamming and loss at facilities.
For paper to decompose it takes between two and six weeks. This is relatively quick compared to other materials, but it can be two to five months before the paper completely disappears if it's disposed of in landfill.
Paper shredders increase security risks. You shred your documents to prevent identity theft and maintain the confidentiality of your information. But your paper shredding machine doesn't offer the most secure method for completely destroying confidential information.
If you keep a home compost, you can add shredded paper to your compost bin as a portion of your brown carbon-rich materials. Shredded paper is perfect for a home compost because it is already broken into small pieces that can decompose quickly in the right conditions.
DON'T add meat scraps, bones, grease, whole eggs, or dairy products to the compost pile because they decompose slowly, cause odors, and can attract rodents. DON'T add pet feces or spent cat liter to the compost pile. DON'T add diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed.
is Shredded paper compostable? Not only is it possible to compost shredded paper, but it's a great addition to the compost process! Because it is already cut into small pieces, shredded paper has an aerated structure that helps to give compost the oxygen it needs to break all the materials down.
Keep reading to discover what you can do with your shredded paper.
Paper cartons are compostable!
If you have a home compost, rip up your paper egg carton into small pieces and add it in! These cartons are made from paperboard, which works as a “brown”, carbon material to help the pile break down more quickly.
Even if they're old statements, they should be shredded. Your name, address, phone number, and bank account information are in those statements, along with your habits, purchases, and banking history. Even if the account is closed, shred it anyway.
How to Destroy Paper Documents without a Shredder: 6 Effective Alternatives
Environmental impacts
As well as being potentially detrimental to health, these fumes can negatively impact the environment. The other clear advantage of shredding rather than burning is recyclability. By burning your documents, you remove that resource from the planet.
By carefully incorporating shredded paper into your compost pile, you can recycle this common household waste into valuable, nutrient-rich compost for your garden. It's always best to avoid unnecessary shredding but if you need to, recycle shredded paper in a blue bin or, if it's the right type of paper, compost it.
You can recycle shredded paper by putting in a paper envelope and then placing it in your paper and card recycling bin. If you're not ale to do that, put your shredded paper in your rubbish bin, or find another use for it (see below for some suggestions).
Most shredded paper is of a high grade and could be recycled but the paper strips are too small and light to be separated during sorting at our material recovery facility – the large plant where recyclables are sorted and sent for re-processing.
In Australia, you generally can't put loose shredded paper in your yellow-lidded recycling bin as it's too small and contaminates the stream; instead, use it in your green FOGO/compost bin, put it in a paper bag or envelope before the yellow bin (check local rules!), use it as pet bedding or garden mulch, or dispose of it in the red landfill bin if other options aren't available.