What to Do With Shredded Paper

On this page (8 sections)

1. Can shredded paper go in the recycling bin?
2. Can you compost shredded paper?
3. How can you reuse clean shredded paper?
4. How should you dispose of shredded documents safely?
5. Which shredder bag should you choose?
6. How do you fit and remove a shredder liner?
7. What mistakes make shredded paper harder to handle?
8. How should you decide what to do with shredded paper?

To decide what to do with shredded paper, check your local recycling rules first. Reuse clean scraps, compost suitable plain paper, or contain rejected shreds for household disposal.

Separate sensitive documents from ordinary packing paper before choosing a route. A bag controls the mess, but it doesn't make readable information secure.

You may not need to buy anything if your collection program accepts shreds in a paper bag you already have. Shredder liners help when emptying the bin regularly scatters scraps across the floor.

Can shredded paper go in the recycling bin?

Put shredded paper in recycling only if your local program accepts it, using its required packaging. Rules for whole sheets don't automatically apply to small shreds.

Small pieces can fall through sorting equipment or spread into other materials. Your city or waste hauler may accept them at the curb, require a separate drop-off, or exclude them.

Before emptying your bin, check these details:

• Does the program accept shredded paper from households?
• Must it be loose, in a closed paper bag, or in another container?
• Does a drop-off site have different rules from curbside collection?
• Must plastic liners be removed before collection?

Keep accepted paper dry and separate from food and liquids. The EPA's recycling basics explain why collection rules depend on local recycling systems.

What to do with shredded paper if curbside recycling rejects it

Look for a drop-off site or community paper collection that specifically accepts already-shredded paper. A document-shredding event may accept whole documents without accepting bags of scraps, so confirm before making a trip.

Don't hide shreds inside a stack of newspapers or add a plastic bag unless instructed. Packaging can't make an excluded material acceptable.

For help collecting scraps indoors, see whether you need paper shredder bags. Choose the disposal route first, then choose a container that works with it.

Can you compost shredded paper?

Clean, plain paper can often go into home compost as a dry, carbon-rich material. Municipal compost services have their own acceptance rules, so check those separately.

Remove tape, plastic windows, and other nonpaper pieces before shredding paper for compost. Keep glossy, coated, or contaminated scraps out unless your compost program specifically accepts them.

Add a thin scattering at a time and mix it with moist food scraps or suitable yard waste. Large handfuls left in one layer can form a mat that is hard to mix.

If the paper stays dry and fluffy, dampen it as you mix. If it forms wet clumps, break them apart and spread them through the pile.

Composting is not immediate document destruction. Keep readable financial or personal details out of an accessible pile, and remove paper from any plastic collection bag before adding it.

How can you reuse clean shredded paper?

Use dry, nonsensitive shreds for packing filler or paper crafts. Skip reuse when the scraps contain private details, food residue, or materials that could mark the item they touch.

For packing, contain the shreds in closed paper bags or tuck them around an already-wrapped item. This keeps loose pieces from escaping as soon as the box opens.

Fill empty spaces without forcing the box out of shape. Fragile items still need suitable wrapping and cushioning, since shredded paper alone may shift or compress.

Plain scraps can also become homemade paper or collage material. Keep a small, labeled container for craft use so it doesn't become mixed with confidential waste.

Avoid using loose shreds beside heaters, candles, or other ignition sources. Store only what you expect to use, since a growing pile takes up space and spreads easily.

How should you dispose of shredded documents safely?

Make sensitive details unreadable before disposal, then keep the pieces contained until collection. Clear bags leave contents visible, and closing a bag doesn't change the size or readability of the shreds.

Check representative pieces for complete account numbers, names beside financial details, or other information you need to protect. If those remain readable, use a suitable shredder or a document-destruction service.

The FTC's identity theft guidance covers protecting personal information. For help sorting your papers before shredding, see what documents to shred at home.

Your machine's cut matters more for privacy than the collection bag. Use our guide to paper shredder security levels to match the cut to the documents you handle.

Keep sensitive scraps in a secure indoor location while awaiting disposal. Put them out according to your collection schedule instead of leaving an open container beside the bin.

Which shredder bag should you choose?

Choose by bin fit first, then consider thickness, box size, and closures. The 3 options below help contain shreds, but none replaces proper document destruction.

Check your shredder manual before fitting a liner. The bag must leave the bin seated correctly and stay clear of cutters, moving parts, and sensors.

Tru Red bags suit larger compatible bins

Tru Red suits readers who want a 50-bag supply for a larger bin. Skip it if your bin is small enough that excess liner would bunch around the opening.

These clear plastic bags measure 27.6 in high by 24.6 in wide and are 0.5 mil thick. Use those dimensions to check that the liner can reach the bottom while leaving enough material at the rim.

Let the bag settle inside the bin before folding its edge over the top, if the manual allows that setup. Don't pull it tight across the bottom, which puts strain on the plastic as shreds collect.

This is a sensible choice when capacity and a medium-size supply box match your routine. Choose another option if you specifically want thicker plastic or confirmed compatibility with a named Fellowes model.

Fellowes bags suit the named Powershred models

Fellowes 36053 suits owners of 90S, 99Ci, 99Ms, AutoMax 200C, or AutoMax 130C shredders. For those machines, named compatibility gives you a clearer starting point than choosing by gallons alone.

The 100-count dispenser box includes extra-long wire ties. That setup suits regular emptying when you want replacement bags and closures stored together.

Skip this option if your shredder isn't among the compatible models unless you separately confirm the fit. A matching brand name alone isn't enough to establish compatibility.

Keep ties away from the feed opening and use them after removing the bag. For recycling, follow the collection program's rules about both the plastic bag and its closure.

Highmark bags suit buyers who prefer thicker plastic

Highmark suits readers who want 1 mil plastic and a smaller supply box. Its material is thicker than the Tru Red option here, though fit and careful handling still matter.

Choose it when you prefer a 25-bag supply over storing a larger box. Skip it if you need confirmed compatibility with a particular shredder and can't verify the bag's fit.

Don't use thickness as a reason to overfill the liner or carry sharp mixed waste in it. The useful benefit is the thicker material, not permission to pack shreds tightly.

How do you fit and remove a shredder liner?

Fit the liner with the machine off and unplugged, following its manual. Seat it fully inside the bin so loose folds don't interfere with replacing the drawer or container.

For an existing liner, use this routine:

1. Stop shredding before paper piles against the cutting area.
2. Switch off and unplug the machine before opening or removing the bin.
3. Gather the bag opening slowly to limit escaping scraps.
4. Support the bottom as you lift, then close the bag.
5. Remove stray shreds from the bin and fit the next liner.

Don't press paper down toward the cutters or shake a full bag indoors. Empty more often if the liner becomes awkward to lift or close.

Keep collection supplies dry and away from the feed slot. For machine care between emptying sessions, follow how to oil a paper shredder and your model's instructions.

What mistakes make shredded paper harder to handle?

Mixing materials and overfilling the bin create avoidable disposal work. Keep a separate waste container nearby for items that don't belong with your paper.

Don't mix shredded cards or plastic with paper intended for recycling or compost. Even if your machine can cut those materials, that doesn't mean they share a disposal route.

Avoid shredding every sheet by habit. Keep nonsensitive paper whole when possible, and use a secure route for documents that need destruction.

Buying a finer-cut shredder also changes the scraps you'll handle. Our micro-cut vs cross-cut guide explains the cut differences before you choose a machine.

How should you decide what to do with shredded paper?

Choose the accepted disposal route before buying bags. Recycle through a program that accepts shreds, save a small amount of clean paper for reuse, or compost suitable plain scraps.

For bag choice, pick Tru Red for a larger compatible bin and a 50-bag supply. Pick Fellowes for the named machines and included ties, or Highmark when thicker plastic and a smaller box suit your routine.

If you're still deciding what to do with shredded paper containing readable private details, resolve the security issue first. Use our paper shredder guide to choose a machine that fits your documents and workload.

Frequently asked questions

Can shredded paper go in the recycling bin?

Shredded paper belongs in recycling only when your local program accepts it. Check whether it must be loose, contained in a paper bag, or taken to a drop-off site.

Keep it dry and separate from food waste, and don't assume a plastic collection bag can go into the recycling bin.

Can I compost shredded paper?

Clean, plain shredded paper can often go into home compost as a dry, carbon-rich material. Add small amounts, moisten dry scraps, and mix them through the pile so they don't form a dense layer.

Remove tape and plastic, avoid glossy or coated paper, and check separate rules for municipal compost collection.

How should I throw away shredded documents?

Make sensitive details unreadable before putting shredded documents out for collection. Follow your local waste rules, close the container, and keep it secure until pickup.

Clear shredder bags contain loose pieces but leave their contents visible, so readable account numbers or other private details need further destruction before disposal.