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How to Recycle Shredded Paper
Paper shredded for security, a material where local rules differ from city to city.
Check local acceptanceLast reviewed September 29, 2026
Quick answer
It depends on your city. Loose shreds jam sorting equipment and scatter as dust, so many programs refuse them at the curb. Portland, Oregon now bans shredded paper from the recycling bin, Central Ohio's Recycle Right accepts it in a clear plastic bag, and Kane County, Illinois wants it in a stapled paper bag taken to a recycling center. Check your program's rule, then use a drop-off, a shred event, or your compost pile. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
How to Prepare
- 1Look up your program's shredded paper rule first, because the answer changes by city
- 2If your program accepts it, follow its container rule exactly: a clear plastic bag (Central Ohio), a stapled paper bag taken to a recycling center (Kane County, IL), or a handful sealed in a paper envelope (Omaha)
- 3If your program bans it, put shreds in a paper bag, roll or staple the top shut, and take them to a drop-off site (Portland's RecycleOn Centers are free)
- 4Never dump loose shreds into a curbside bin
- 5Add plain paper shreds to your compost pile
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling (only where your program accepts it)
- Recycling centers and drop-off sites
- Community shred events
- Shredding services
- Home compost piles
Special Instructions
Local rules split three ways. Portland, Oregon no longer accepts shredded paper in the recycling bin, even bagged, because bags pop or tear during sorting and the shreds scatter into dust and debris. The city sends residents to six free RecycleOn Centers, where you drop shreds in a paper bag rolled or stapled shut. Central Ohio's Recycle Right accepts shredded paper in a clear plastic bag with nothing else in it, so sorters can see the contents. Omaha takes only a handful sealed in a paper envelope and says to never bag it or place it loose. Shredding also cuts paper fibers short, which lowers the paper's value to mills. Shred only pages with personal information, and redact the rest with a permanent marker.
Environmental Impact
Recycling shredded paper where a program accepts it saves trees and landfill space. Shredding cuts fibers short, and a fiber can be reused only five to seven times before it is too short for new paper, so shredded paper makes lower-grade products than whole sheets.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Take it to a community shred event
- Use a shredding service at a retailer such as Staples or UPS
- Add plain paper shreds to your compost pile
- Redact sensitive lines with a permanent marker and recycle the page whole
- Shred only pages with personal information
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
- EPA: Recycle common materials, including paper and cardboard
- City of Portland: Shredded paper and plastic lids drop-off (Sept 2026)
- Recycle Right (SWACO): Shredded Paper
- Omaha Recycling Guide: Shredded Paper
- Kane County, IL: Paper and Cardboard curbside guidelines
- Earth911: How to Recycle Shredded Paper
- EPA: Paper Making and Recycling
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Shredded office paper (where your program accepts it)
- Shreds packed in the container your program requires
- Shreds delivered to a shred event or shredding service
- Plain paper shreds for home compost
Not Accepted
- Loose shreds dumped in a curbside bin
- Bagged shreds in cities that ban them, such as Portland, Oregon
- Shreds in any container your program does not accept
FAQs
Should shredded paper be recycled?
Yes, if your program accepts it, and no if your city bans it. Shreds jam sorting equipment, so rules differ by city. Portland, Oregon bans them from the bin, and Central Ohio accepts them in a clear plastic bag.
What is the proper disposal of shredded paper?
Follow your local rule. Pack shreds in the container your program requires, take them to a drop-off site or shred event, or add plain paper shreds to your compost pile. Never put loose shreds in the bin.
Can I put shredded paper in the recycle bin?
Only if your program says so. Central Ohio's Recycle Right accepts it in a clear plastic bag, Omaha accepts a handful sealed in a paper envelope, and Portland, Oregon does not accept it at all. Loose shreds are never accepted.
Why can't shredded paper go in the recycling bin?
Shreds fall through sorting screens, scatter as dust, and jam machinery. Bags pop or tear during sorting, so even bagged shreds end up as trash in many facilities.
Can I compost shredded paper?
Yes. Plain paper shreds work well in a home compost pile because they are already partly broken down. Check local rules before adding them to a yard waste program.
Where can I recycle shredded paper near me?
Look for a community shred event, a retail shredding service, or a drop-off center run by your city. Portland, Oregon residents can use six free RecycleOn Centers with shreds in a paper bag rolled or stapled shut.
Does shredding reduce the value of paper?
Yes. Shredding cuts fibers short, and a fiber can be reused only five to seven times before it is too short for new paper. Whole sheets bring mills more value, so shred only pages with personal information.
Recycle shredded paper
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more paper materials.