Many companies strive to be more eco-friendly by participating in recycling programs and other “green” habits. You might want to help your company contribute to the recycling efforts by adding your shredded paper to the recycling bin. However, shredded paper is a special case when it comes to recycling. Learn the do’s and don’ts of recycling shredded paper before you take your paper scraps out to the curb.
Do: Contact Your Waste Management Program
Some waste collection companies don’t always accept shredded paper. This is because the tiny particles of paper can be difficult to sort and often get stuck in sorting machinery. If your business produces a lot of paper shreds and you’re curious about whether you can add them to your curbside recycling, contact your waste management company. They may list on their website which materials they do and don’t accept, including shredded paper. If not, you can also find a local specialty recycling center that accepts paper particles.
Do: Reuse Shredded Paper
If your recycling collection program doesn’t accept shredded paper, there are other ways that your business can reuse and recycle these materials. If your business takes part in composting efforts, paper particles make great composting materials. Paper is a type of “brown” compost material that you can layer with your “greens” like food waste and yard waste. You can also use shredded paper as packing materials around your office. There are many other uses of paper particles rather than throwing them away. If your employees use personal shredders at their desks, you can even allow them to take shredded paper home to recycle or compost.
Don’t: Recycle All Types of Shredded Paper
While there are many applications for paper particles, you should still use caution when reusing and recycling paper shreds that come from confidential documents. Strip-cut paper shredders and other standard models of paper shredders don’t offer the same information security that cross-cut and micro-cut shredders offer. Make sure you’re only recycling paper particles that come from high-security shredders to protect your company information and confidential documents.
While recycling shredded paper is a great way for your business to contribute to eco-friendly programs, it might not always be the best way to help. Remember these do’s and don’ts of recycling shredded paper the next time you take out your business’s recycling.
