can you compost printer paper?
Yes — plain office paper composts well shredded, toner and all, though clean sheets do more good in the recycling bin.
breaks down in 1–3 months shredded
C:N ≈ 170:1
which bins can take it?
- hot pile yes
- cold pile yes
- worm bin yes
- bokashi no
- tumbler yes
- curbside caution
- curbside: Programs differ on office paper in the green cart — many prefer it recycled. Ask yours.
why?
Copy paper is bleached, short-fibered cellulose around 170:1 carbon to nitrogen that microbes handle easily once shredded — whole sheets weld into airtight plasters when wet. Laser toner is fused pigment at a fraction of a gram per page, an amount extension programs consider insignificant in a pile.
how to prep it
- Shred or tear; never layer whole sheets
- Set aside glossy, sticker-backed, and photo sheets
- Dampen the shreds so they stay put
watch out for
- Office paper can be recycled several times before its fibers wear out — save composting for shreds and soiled sheets recycling can't use.
often confused with
- Photo prints — Photo paper is a resin-coated plastic sandwich — it has no place in a pile.
quick answers
Is inkjet or laser printing worse for compost?
Neither matters at home-pile scale. Inkjet inks are water-based dyes; toner is heat-fused in trace amounts. Your pile digests the paper and shrugs at the printing.
Can I compost paper with staples in it?
Yes — staples rust away or turn up harmlessly in the screen. Pull out binder clips, plastic combs, and spiral bindings, and ignore the odd staple.