Shredded paper - similar to straw?

[davee52uk]

I have started adding shredded paper to my compost heap. I have a shredder at home through which I run all letters, circulars, junk mail etc. This produces a carrier bag full at least once a week.

This seems to compost down - I've already used some of this. If the paper hasn't rotted down it seemed quite good at holding water.

I just think that it should work just like adding straw to the heap as it is similar material.

What do readers think?

[davee52uk]

[Curryandchips]

I do the same, but only with newspapers. There are inks used which is some cases can have traces of nasty chemicals. The ingredients used on newspapers have been cleared as safe. Someone may be able to come up with a link ...

[glow777]

I use shredded paper instead of straw in my chicken run. I mainly use shredded duplicate paper, in the hope it would double egg production!, it looks a bit surreal but the chickens don't mind and adds to the compost and rots down quickly - especially when coated with chicken *^%£^

[cambourne7]

Hi

I think the issue is that paper does not dry as quickly as straw so the roots of plants may start to rot.

It depends on the quantity and how your going to use it.

If your short of browns for your compost bin it will work.

L

[froglets]

I use it to soak up the moisture in my wormery when the quantity of kitchen waste gets too high, the worms seem to have no problem with it and I know the chance of identity theft is pretty low.

[flowerlady]

I mix paper shreddings 50/50 with grass cuttings too ... this helps to reduce the solid soggy hot bits that grass makes !!