Have you wondered the answer to the question can you recycle shredded paper? It’s a common question. Shredding documents is popular amongst businesses and individuals to protect sensitive information. So what do you do with the paper once you’ve shredded it? It is paper right! So it should be recyclable. Well, unfortunately, it isn’t easy to recycle.
Let’s take a look at why shredded paper can be tough to recycle. We will give you some tips on reducing and reusing too.
Can you recycle shredded paper?
Technically, you can recycle shredded paper; however, there are some complexities. Paper products are made from fibers, and each type of paper product uses a different quality of fiber.
The paper you print on at home or at the office is generally a high grade, whereas the paper in tissues is a much lower grade or has very short fibers.
When you shred paper, it cuts the fibers and makes them much shorter. This reduces the quality of the material. Sadly there are limited uses for paper with low-quality short fibers.
Another problem with shredded paper occurs when it gets mixed in multistream recycling. The shredded pieces are too small to be collected at recycling facilities and can fall through the filters.
Unfortunately, for these reasons, shredded paper is not generally accepted in your curbside recycling. It is worth checking with your local authority in case your area has a service available.
If they don’t, or you are unsure, then definitely keep your shredded paper out of your curbside recycling bin.
Try To Avoid Shredded Paper
The best solution is to avoid shredding paper and look at reducing the amount of paper you use. Given we live in a digital world, it’s surprising we still use a significant amount of paper.
In the USA, the average American uses 7 trees worth of paper each year; that’s 2 Million trees a year. In Australia, they still consume almost 230kg of virgin paper per person per year. A total of 1.9 million tonnes of that paper and cardboard goes to landfill every year.
If you can find a way to avoid using the paper in the first place, that is the best option. Try switching to electronic bills with your regular service providers or your bank. Before you press print, ask yourself if you really need to have a printed copy. You can do most things online now. Plus, it will save you from having to file it too.
Only shred private information. Don’t be tempted to throw in a heap of other papers just because you like destroying things (or is that just me). You can even tear off the part of the paper that contains private information, often the top of a letter, for example.
Other Ways To Secure Your Information
- Some services will take your shredded paper, but they do come at a cost. Many of these companies cater to businesses, making their fees hard to justify for the average individual. Examples of service providers are Fedex or Staples.
- Another option is to use a permanent marker to run over your personal information.
- You can also get a purpose-built privacy stamp that covers the address when you roll over it. We use one of these and then we can recycle all of our paper.
What Else To Do With Shredded Paper?
There are many other ways you can dispose of your shredded paper. Here are just a few:
- Shredded paper is great for home composts. It’s important to consider what type of paper you have and make sure your paper is not glossy or heavily inked.
- Shredded paper can be used for packaging to deliver parcels. Be sure to mix up the paper strips beforehand so there’s no chance someone can put it back together.
- You can use it for pet bedding for hamsters or other pets.
- Shredded paper can be used as a mulch in your garden to help keep weeds at bay.
The Wrap
Given shredded paper is not generally recyclable, it’s a good idea to avoid it if you can. The best way to do this is to reduce the amount of paper that you get in the first place. Convert your bills to electronic format and get yourself a secure stamp to cover your address and other small details.
Learn more about recycling paper and paper products:
