[Jane in southwest WI]

Sorry if this has been asked before - I couldn't find it in the archives.

Can shredded paper from junk mail, home printer, etc, be added to the compost pile? I have avoided composting it up til now but after seeing HGTV's "The Gardener Guy" do it I wondered if it might be okay. I don't use any synthetic chemicals in my veggie garden, so I'd rather be sure.

 

[jillianjiggs]

I feed them to my worms. It works pretty well at soaking up 'worm juice' from the composting process. I'm not sure about the chemicals, but I'd use it in an area where you've got decorative plants if you're really worried about it. Kids eat paper all the time though, so it can't be THAT dangerous.

 

[birdie_poo]

I till it right into the soil. I've tried composting it,but I get too imaptient...doo doo does just as well.

 

[mistletoad]

I shred all our junk mail for chicken house litter, after it is used there it goes on the compost piles. Most of the inks are soy based and harmless, some glossy papers use some type of clay, but that too is harmless. You can even compost most of the window envelopes now as they use cellulose rather than plastic.
The only problem with composting large amounts of shredded newspaper is that it can form big clumps that takes ages to break down, that's why I prefer mine already processed by the chickens.

 

[birdie_poo]

I shred all our junk mail for chicken house litter, after it is used there it goes on the compost piles. Most of the inks are soy based and harmless, some glossy papers use some type of clay, but that too is harmless. You can even compost most of the window envelopes now as they use cellulose rather than plastic.
The only problem with composting large amounts of shredded newspaper is that it can form big clumps that takes ages to break down, that's why I prefer mine already processed by the chickens.

That's a great idea! I think I will do that too...that will save on straw...shredded paper never produced weeds, that I know of. It may even educate them chooks, too!

 

[Jane in southwest WI]

I was also wondering about printer paper from our inkjet printer - is that soy-based too?