Can you recycle shredded paper?

Shredding cuts paper fibres short, which lowers their value for making new paper, and loose shreds behave like confetti in a sorting facility: they blow off the belts, drop through the screens meant to separate paper from glass, and end up contaminating other streams. Services that do accept it usually require it bagged in a clear or paper sack so it stays contained. Shredded paper composts well and makes good bedding for garden compost, which is often the better route.

How to do it properly

1. Check your local service before putting any in the bin.
2. If accepted, bag it in a clear plastic or paper sack rather than loose.

Other options

• Compost it — shredded paper is a good carbon source and breaks down quickly.
• Use it as packing material or animal bedding.

Other "can you recycle" questions

• Can you recycle pizza boxes? It depends — Clean parts yes, grease-soaked parts no — tear the box and bin the oily half.
• Can you recycle plastic bags? It depends — Not in kerbside bins. They need a store drop-off point that takes soft plastic film.
• Can you recycle batteries? It depends — Yes, but only at a collection point. Batteries in a kerbside bin start fires.
• Can you recycle styrofoam? No — Effectively no. Almost no kerbside service takes it, and food-soiled foam never qualifies.
• Can you recycle coffee cups? It depends — Not in ordinary paper recycling — the plastic lining needs a specialist facility.
• Can you recycle receipts? No — No. Most receipts are thermal paper coated with BPA or BPS and must go in general waste.

Kerbside recycling rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always beat general guidance. Check your own collection service before assuming any material is accepted.