How to Recycle Shredded Paper

One of the best ways to avoid identity theft is to shred documents with personal information, such as bills and receipts. But don’t shred for no reason, because this significantly reduces the paper’s recycling market.

Shredded Paper Recycling Preparation

  1. If you are shredding paper at home, make sure to read the manual and operate with safety.
  2. When you’re ready to empty the shredder, most recycling programs will ask that you put shredded paper in a larger container, such as a paper or plastic bag. You’ll want to check locally for your city’s instructions.
  3. If you are partnering with a commercial shredding company (such as for your business), make sure to ask for a certificate of destruction once the recycling is complete.

Find drop-off spots for shredded paper using our Recycling Locator.

Why Recycle Shredded Paper

Shredded Paper Recycling Process

Shredded paper is classified as mixed paper, so the first step in recycling is to separate it from cardboard, office paper and newspaper grades. Shredded paper is then baled and sent to a mill.

At the mill, there are machines called pulpers that introduce water and chemicals to break down the paper into fibers. Then, any ink and adhesive is removed and the paper fibers start bonding together. Finally, the fibers are rolled and dried, then sent off to make new products. Because mixed-paper fibers are smaller than cardboard or office paper, this paper is recycled into lesser-quality paper products, such as coffee filters, egg cartons and paper towels.

Frequent Shredded Paper Recycling Questions

It depends on where you live. Shredded paper is one of the biggest material acceptance variables in curbside recycling, so you should check with your local curbside program before placing it in the recycle bin. Almost every city that accepts shredded paper will require that you bag it first.
In most cases, the information you’re looking to delete is only on one line, such as a name or number. You can use a permanent marker to remove the personal information without shredding the document. This ink is easily removed in the recycling process.
In paper recycling, the longer the fibers, the higher the value of the paper. For shredded paper, the fiber lengths are purposefully shortened, thereby reducing the recycling market.
Yes. Shredded paper is great for home-based compost programs because it’s already largely broken down and paper is a key ingredient in compost. You’ll want to check before trying to include it with your yard waste collection, though.
Currently, 31 states have laws requiring the destruction of documents containing personal information. However, this mostly applies to businesses and governments, and doesn’t require recycling of the shredded paper. If you’re going to pay for a company to shred files, though, you might as well find one that will recycle them.

Additional Reading