How Do You Recycle Shredded Paper?

Yes! Shredded paper is recyclable. Check your local guidelines to see if it’s accepted in your area.

Always think before you shred. Shredded paper is less likely to be recycled than sheets of paper because the small shreds of paper can get lost in collection and processing. The smaller the paper is, the less likely it is to get recycled. 

A good rule of thumb is to only shred paper containing sensitive information. Here are some examples of things that should be shredded: 

• Employee pay stubs 

• Bank statements 

• Investment transactions 

• Pre-approved credit card applications 

• Medical records  

• Tax forms 

• Anything with your social security number 

• Anything with your credit card number 

Anything that doesn’t contain sensitive information should not be shredded. The items below are examples of things that should be recycled normally: 

• Mail 

• Folders 

• Greeting cards 

• Books 

• Magazines 

First, put the shreds in a paper bag or cardboard box. Staple or tape it shut and recycle it in your curbside recycling bin. 

Putting the shredded paper in a paper bag or box makes it more likely that it will be recycled. Loose paper shreds can blow around when they’re being collected or make a mess when being processed at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). 

Recycled paper fibers can be reused 5 to 7 times to make new paper and cardboard products. The more paper you recycle, the more waste stays out of landfills, instead getting turned into things like container board, boxboard and newsprint.  

If you only shred paper with sensitive information, you can protect your privacy while extending the useful life of paper. 

Download this infographic as a reminder to think before you shred.