After a big decluttering session or a paper-heavy project, you may end up with piles of paper. Paper and magazines are among the most common solid waste items that are sent to recycling facilities. Office documents may contain sensitive information, making their management and disposal a priority. First of all, you need to sort significant documents that you need to keep from ones you no longer need. As data breach poses a significant threat to businesses, it is important to consider shredding documents. That is why, many organizations are using paper shredding as a method to protect vital information from possible identity theft. But what happens to all those tiny pieces afterward? Are shredded papers recyclable? If so, how to get rid of shredded paper? Keep reading this article, and we will explain the many options for safely recycling shredded papers.
Can Shredded Paper Be Recycled?
Yes, shredded paper can be recycled, but it requires some special handling. When it comes to shredded paper, several concerns may arise, making the recycling process a bit complicated.It requires a bit more effort than recycling sheets of paper, but the benefits to the environment make it a worthwhile option.
Recycling paper through secure programs brings many benefits:
- enhances security
- promotes sustainability
- reduces waste
- protects data
- helps to get rid of clutter and prevent fire hazards
Once these confidential documents are shredded, these should be immediately sent for recycling, where any contained information is destroyed during the recycling process.
What Are the Different Options?
- Approach a Waste Management Facility: Based on location, recycling rules vary. Before making the decision, check with your local recycling facility about the current guidelines. While some facilities accept shredded paper, others do not accept it. Visit your nearest waste management facility to get the needed information or make a call to them. You can also approach a local drop-off center, where they provide facilities with designated bins or containers.
- Bag It Up: If your nearest recycling accepts shredded paper, it should be contained within a bag, separated from the rest of your paper products. Using a paper bag is generally preferable to collect your shredded paper. Otherwise, it will cause issues to your recycling facility.
- Compost: Composting is a simple and effective way to reduce paper waste. Create a nutrient-rich fertiliser for your garden with these bits of paper.
- Reuse: If you can't recycle these, you can find many other options to reuse. Apart from putting these in the trash, it can be used in many ways.
- Use as a filler for gift bags
- Use as a packing material for shipping fragile items
- Use for pet bedding
- Stuff it in an opaque vase to keep silk flower arrangements in place
- Make paper clay
Shredding paper is great for safety and security, but not so good for recyclability. Shredded paper is less likely to be recycled than whole sheets because the small bits of paper can be lost in collection and processing. You need to understand what can be recycled and not.
Shred paper that contains sensitive information. Here are some examples of things that can be shredded:
- Bank statements
- Investment transactions
- Medical records
- Tax forms
- Anything with your social security number
- Anything with your credit card number
- Corporate data like customer records
- Financial information
There is no need to shred papers that doesn’t contain sensitive information. Here are some examples of things that should not be shredded:
- Folders
- Greeting cards
- Books
- Magazines
So, it is wise to think before you shred. The smaller the paper is, the less likely it is to get recycled. If you are a business or organization in the U.S. that generates a large amount of shredded paper, then you can find many waste and recycling management centers in the United States that offer a solution for shredded paper recycling.
Next time if you are faced with a pile of shredded paper, make a significant impact by incorporating recycling habits into your daily routine.
Recycle smarter and contribute to a healthier planet.