How to Recycle Shredded Paper
Paper that's been shredded for security purposes - a material where national and local guidance genuinely disagree.
Quick answer
It depends on where you live. Shredded paper is recyclable fiber, but the short strands jam sorting equipment, and guidance conflicts: the American Forest & Paper Association says to bag it in a stapled paper bag and put it in recycling, while some city programs, including Portland, Oregon, list bagged shredded paper as a top contaminant and tell residents to trash it instead. Check your local program before bagging it for curbside pickup, or take it to a shred-recycling event, which almost always accepts it. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
How to Prepare
- 1Check your local program's specific guidance before doing anything else - this is one material where the answer really does vary by city
- 2If your program accepts it, place it in a paper bag and staple or seal the bag shut
- 3If your program doesn't accept it curbside, take it to a shred-recycling event or a shredding service instead
- 4Never put loose shredded paper directly in a curbside bin unbagged
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling (check first)
- Recycling centers
- Shred-recycling events
- Shredding services
Special Instructions
National and local guidance genuinely conflict here. AF&PA's guidance is to bag shredded paper and recycle it curbside. Portland, Oregon's sanitation program instead calls bagged shredded paper a top contaminant, since bags pop or tear during sorting and the shreds scatter into dust and debris. Follow your own city's rule rather than defaulting to either one.
Environmental Impact
Recycling shredded paper (where accepted) saves trees and landfill space, but the same short fibers that make it a security measure also make it harder for sorting equipment to handle than intact paper.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
FAQs
Can you recycle shredded paper?
It depends where you live, and this is a material where national and local guidance genuinely disagree. Shredded paper is recyclable fiber, but the short strands jam sorting equipment, so some programs want it and others explicitly do not.
What is the correct way to put shredded paper out?
The American Forest & Paper Association says to bag it in a stapled paper bag and put that in recycling, which contains the strands. Never tip loose shreds into a bin, where they blow around and fall straight through sorting screens.
Why do some cities tell you to trash it?
Because bagged shredded paper turns up as a top contaminant in their stream. Portland, Oregon is one that lists it that way and tells residents to bin it instead. Check your own program before assuming the national advice applies.
Is there a route that always works?
A community shred event or a commercial shredding service, which almost always recycles what they collect. If you have a large volume or genuinely sensitive documents, that is the better answer on both counts.
Does shredding reduce the value of paper?
Yes. Shredding cuts the fibers short, and fiber length is what determines how many times paper can be recycled. Shredded paper is still usable, but it makes lower-grade product than intact office paper would.
Should I shred everything for security?
Shred only what genuinely carries personal information. Shredding a whole recycling bin's worth of junk mail creates a contamination problem for no security benefit, and intact paper is worth more as a recyclable.
Recycle shredded paper
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more paper materials.