I've heard lots of folks say not to put colored newspaper in worm beds-use black & white only. However, my worms seem to eat colored paper, cereal boxes and other colored paper fine. Is there a reason why I shouldn't put the resulting compost on my garden? Sure seem like a good way to get rid of potential trash. Thnanks.

The "black-and-white newsprint only" caveat is based on the fact that inks for b/w print are vegetable-based, whereas colored inks may contain toxicity levels that may be harmful. If your worms eat them, they are either hungry or heavy metal addicts. Good Q, I will contact a chemistry PhD type I know whom inevitably will email me back with a long list of chemicals that are used in 4 color processing etc.
John
http://www.ecologicalsgardens.com/

Research as promised:

Ink Solvents

Some printing inks contain solvents (such as xylene, alcohols, or aliphatics) which evaporate during the printing process. In lithography, most of the inks used generate minimal VOC and hazardous chemical emissions. Gravure and flexographic inks can contain large amounts of solvent. Other contributors to VOC emissions include fountain solutions, cleaning solvents, and some adhesives used in the post-press stage of the printing and publishing process. Generally, air emissions from lithographic inks alone are not significant.

Flexographic inks are much less viscous than lithographic inks. As the ink is circulated through the press, solvent constantly evaporates from the open vats and trays containing ink. Solvent is either added automatically or by press operators to the ink to compensate for evaporation prior to printing. The solvent added to the ink while on the press or during ink blending evaporates. Typically, flexographic printers and suppliers have eliminated toxic solvents such as xylene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and replaced them with alcohols.
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In other words, the printed matter produced by a given printing plant may or may not be toxic. The solvents may or may not have evaporated, did it leave a toxic film? Soy based black ink seems like a more certain thing to me...

Many color pigments are heavy metals like cadmium. Some newspapers are using much safer ingredients but do not risk it. You could end up with accumulations of bad stuff in your soil, then vegies, then you.

not to mention your trusting worms.

I certainly would discontinue the practice of using paper with colored ink as worm bedding. But, I also think I wouldn't be afraid to use the worm castings you currently have, at least in my flower beds & houseplants. I can look it up so that I speak with more authority, but I know that worms rid the soil of a VERY high percentage of metals & toxins in the proces of digesting them. My concern is more for the health of your worms than any real danger to you. I'd stop using colored inks, but I wouldn't waste those worm castings either.

Looks like I need to clean out a worm bed. I'll move all the bad stuff to one bed for flowers, etc. and start a new one for the vegtables. Thanks for the answers y'all.