paper in compost - Topic Powered by Eve Community

Posted

Can I use printer paper from a black and white lazer printer in compost?

Posts: 4 | Registered: October 03, 2006

GreenChemist

Posted

Probably not.I think that paper is chemically treated to make it so white and crisp, and who knows what's in the toner (really, does anyone??). I'd say, stick with newsprint. It's thinner, so it breaks down quicker, and is generally recommended by rodale.

Ambitious gardener, gamer and target shooter, formerly known as needmorespace.

...Even though I study chem, I see less and less need for it outside the lab...

Posts: 274 | Location: Upstate NY Zone 5 border with 4 | Registered: March 25, 2006

Ignored post by GreenChemist posted

gridgardener

Posted

yes it perfectly safe. there is another thread on this that outlined what and what should not be composted.

Posts: 331 | Registered: February 15, 2006

Ignored post by gridgardener posted

wasrabbity

Posted

When all else fails... feed it to your pet rabbits and let them do the shredding!

My rabbits are super paper shredders.

Posts: 4077 | Location: Zone 6, North East KY, near Ohio River | Registered: July 27, 2005

Ignored post by wasrabbity posted

Kimm1

Posted

Wood pulp, from which paper is made, is normally a brownish color. To get that nice white paper that wood pulp is bleached by one of several methods and then thoroughly washed to remove the chemicals used to bleach it. Then as the pulp is laid on the paper machine and run through adhesives (often latex) and clays are added depending on what the end use of that paper is to be. So, other than the latex and clay there are no real "chemical" residues left in the finished product, just the celulose from the trees, the clay for surface, and the adhesives to bind the clay to the celulose fibers. The inks from the laser or any other printer will be a bigger problem, but the paper itself is not.

The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.

Posts: 2957 | Location: Central Michigan along the Lakeshore | Registered: August 28, 2004

Ignored post by Kimm1 posted

peggy g

Posted

I shred mine and put it in the composter. The paper I do not use is the glossy stuff.

Zone 9 Melbourne, Fl. Gardening is a class in continuing education. Enjoy!

Posts: 145 | Location: Melbourne, Fl. | Registered: May 22, 2003

Ignored post by peggy g posted

littlefrog

Posted

My old bills are never glossy

just plain old bills and the evelopes that they send them in.I also get lots of junk mail.I shred my stuff about every 3 months or when I can't see the computer any more without standing on a chair.Then I toss them into my composter.Works for me.
Mavis

I LIVE in the garden ,I sleep in the house

Posts: 486 | Location: Ontario Canada zone 5a | Registered: April 16, 2002

Ignored post by littlefrog posted

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by needmorespace:
Probably not.I think that paper is chemically treated to make it so white and crisp, and who knows what's in the toner (really, does anyone??). I'd say, stick with newsprint. It's thinner, so it breaks down quicker, and is generally recommended by rodale.

Thanks for the info

Posts: 4 | Registered: October 03, 2006

Ignored post by MaresA posted

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by gridgardener:
yes it perfectly safe. there is another thread on this that outlined what and what should not be composted.

Ok, will look it up thanks a lot. It is shreaded into little bitty bits.

Posts: 4 | Registered: October 03, 2006

Ignored post by MaresA posted

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by littlefrog:
My old bills are never glossy just plain old bills and the evelopes that they send them in.I also get lots of junk mail.I shred my stuff about every 3 months or when I can't see the computer any more without standing on a chair.Then I toss them into my composter.Works for me. That is funny, sounds like you work here.
Mavis

Posts: 4 | Registered: October 03, 2006

Ignored post by MaresA posted

GreenChemist

Posted

I'm not quite sure, that's the thing. Evidently it is safe to compost inkjet paper, but I have two yards worth of leaves... I don't really need paper.

Ambitious gardener, gamer and target shooter, formerly known as needmorespace.

...Even though I study chem, I see less and less need for it outside the lab...

Posts: 274 | Location: Upstate NY Zone 5 border with 4 | Registered: March 25, 2006

Ignored post by GreenChemist posted

goldpearl

Posted

I shred and compost alot of black on white printed material along with newspaper, leaves and the usual kitchen veggies, fruit scraps and grass clippings.
I would rather compost it than let it go to a landfill.

A dream of gardens foretells great joy.

Posts: 822 | Location: Zone 8, Texas | Registered: March 18, 2004

Ignored post by goldpearl posted

treesreach

Posted

Hi.
This seems like a good topic to add this info under. I've read a couple people mentioning that they use or compost cardboard (that's paper, right?) in their garden. And I was just reading on the adhesives that are used to hold together the cardboard.

Cargill (and we all need another reason to love these guys, right?

) is working on an even newer adhesive using nanotech.
Cargill http://www.smalltimes.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=269497&p=109
And the current ingredients in the adhesive don't sound all that thrilling either. Just a heads up for the purpose of information dissemination.

Posts: 4 | Registered: September 27, 2006

Ignored post by treesreach posted

goldpearl

Posted

When I'm tearing up cardboard boxes to use in my garden, it's usually tape holding them together. Anyway, I am not gonna worry too much about the glue, but I supposed you could cut away anything that had glue on it, if it concerns you.
Plastic is not good for you either, but its still handy to use milk jugs and buckets in the garden. Most of my starter pots and trays are made of plastic, too.

A dream of gardens foretells great joy.

Posts: 822 | Location: Zone 8, Texas | Registered: March 18, 2004

Ignored post by goldpearl posted

treesreach

Posted

No, I meant that cardboard itself is held together with adhesives that have some nasty stuff in it.

But I was just reading about chemical toxins in the environment and got this too:

quote:
PFOS (perfluorooctanyl sulfonates) compounds can be also found in some impregnation agents for textiles, paper, and leather; in wax, polishes, paints, varnishes, and cleaning products for general use; in metal surfaces, and carpets.

and then this:

quote:
The PBDEs, which are added to seat cushions, mattresses and electronic devices, among many other items, appear to be escaping into the environment as PBDE-laden foam cushions fall apart and plastics break down.
They're being found in human breast milk.
Scientists have found that the chemicals can affect liver and thyroid function and cause behavioral and developmental problems following high exposure in the womb.

Posts: 4 | Registered: September 27, 2006

Ignored post by treesreach posted