Topic: Shredder Paper

[bella4legs]

Can I use paper from a domestic shredder to make Compost ?

[kt.]

Absolutely.  I have just chucked a load in my compost bin yesterday.  Sometimes i put a load  of shredded paper in the potato bed prior to the manure.

[hippydave]

i use it in the bean trenchers to retain moisture

[garrett]

Yes, it's an excellent addition to making compost, plus no one will ever be able to sellotape together all your data!

[cornykev]

My 6 year old asked if we could do some shredding today so after school we will be filling a few carrier's, I put some in the bean trench and always keep some handy if the dalek bins get too wet, stir in a few handfuls and it normally retuns to a nice mix.   ;D

[saddad]

Can I use paper from a domestic shredder to make Compost ?

Welcome to A4A Bella... I do... if you have lots of colour/ glossy bits you could have a problem with the inks... but routine things like statements... fine.

[Pescador]

Once lawn mowing starts, and it won't be long now, mix clippings with shredded paper 50/50 and add to compost heap. Rots down fast and heats up lovely

[Lizann]

Great tips.  Am taking note!

[galina]

i also use it in my wormbin and it disappears - the worms must like it.]

[antipodes]

I use it as mulch on the fruit bushes! I usually spread a little manure under it, about now in fact or during winter, then I spread a thick layer of it. It looks a bit odd at first, gleaming white!  But it breaks down a bit more slowly than straw etc and provides good mulch, stops grass growing too wild. I just put down more and there is not a single trace of last year's batch...

[chriscross1966]

Modern inks are biodegradeable... by EU order I thought.....

[Vinlander]

Can I use paper from a domestic shredder to make Compost ?

Welcome to A4A Bella... I do... if you have lots of colour/ glossy bits you could have a problem with the inks... but routine things like statements... fine.

The inks aren't the problem (unless your periodicals come from outside EU) and most of the organic sites accept this unless they have gone gaga (or gagagaia).

The problem is the amount of clay they put into shiny paper - if it isn't well diluted with compost it turns into a horrible claggy mess.

If you are using newspaper then the more the merrier - you can even compost 100% if you can get the air in and top up the nitrogen - either with growmore or with the warm amber nectar you get after the cold amber nectar has been through the drinker (with apologies to the Worzels).

Cheers.

[saddad]

Modern inks are biodegradeable... by EU order I thought.....

Oh good... I'm pleased to hear it..  :)

[manicscousers]

we shove some in the squash/cucumber/melon pits as well as the bean trenches, keeps the moisture in, not that we need it at the mo  ;D

[bella4legs]

Thanks very much everybody for your help, it's greatly appreciated and I will certainly compost shredder paper from now on.

[Slugcrusher]

Some of my suppliers shred their computer paper and use it for packing instead of plastic bubble wrap. I had too much last year and used the excess instead of straw under my strawberrys - worked fine as a whole bale of straw is too much.

[pumkinlover]

[/quote]
The problem is the amount of clay they put into shiny paper - if it isn't well diluted with compost it turns into a horrible claggy mess.

[/quote]

I wondered why that happened!
Thanks Vinlander

[Vinlander]

The problem is the amount of clay they put into shiny paper - if it isn't well diluted with compost it turns into a horrible claggy mess.

I wondered why that happened!
Thanks Vinlander

The silver lining to this is: that wet glossy magazines dry to what is very like an artificial slate - if your raised beds are 'battered' at 45 degrees you can use the 'slates' to line them and stop the rain washing them onto your paths.
 
It makes a very good stopgap while you collect planks from skips!

Cheers.

[calendula]

the toxins in paper waste might well be acceptable to the EU but you have to decide if they are acceptable to you - you need to make an informed decision beyond what the powers that be tell us, in my not so humble opinion  ;D - if you care about what goes into your vegetables and fruit and then ultimately in you then you need to do your research

[kt.]

Having downsized my hen house, I use shredded paper as bedding.  It will be going into the compost bin every week or two so i get the best of both - compost... chicken manure.