At Earth911, a common question we receive is, “Can shredded paper be recycled?” The answer remains “yes, but”—with significant changes in recycling methods and locations since our last update.
In 2024, according to the American Forest & Paper Association, 60% to 64% of paper and 69% to 74% of cardboard were recycled in the United States. U.S. mills utilized 32.7 million tons of recycled paper to produce new items. Although paper ranks as one of the most recycled materials nationwide, shredded paper poses recycling challenges due to its complexity.
Why Shredded Paper Is Tricky to Recycle
Paper consists of fibers, with longer fibers enhancing its recycling value. Each recycling process shortens these fibers, diminishing their worth until the paper becomes tissue or toilet paper. Shredded paper is particularly challenging to recycle, leading many programs to reject it.
Shredding hastens the shortening of fibers, reducing the paper grade from high-grade to mixed-grade. While still recyclable, mixed-grade paper is typically processed into products like paper towels and packing paper. However, the small size of shredded pieces creates issues at material recovery facilities (MRFs), as loose shreds fall through sorting screens, jamming optical scanners that require a minimum piece size to detect materials. Shredded paper often contaminates glass, plastic, and other streams, which is why many programs require it to be bagged if accepted at all.
The 2026 Curbside Reality: Check Before You Toss
Starting July 1, 2025, Oregon residents experienced a change. Under the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act in Oregon, shredded paper is no longer accepted in curbside bins in counties like Clackamas. However, new recycling centers are being established to accept shredded paper. In the Portland metro area, shredded paper was also excluded from curbside collection under new Extended Producer Responsibility rules, with new facilities being constructed to manage it.
If shredded paper is accepted by your local program, it usually requires placement in a paper bag—a standard brown grocery bag works well—and should be clearly labeled as “Shredded Paper” to aid in correct sorting by recycling workers. Use a clear plastic bag only if explicitly instructed by your facility; otherwise, the entire bag typically ends up in the landfill.
To find the latest local recycling options, you can use Earth911’s Recycling Search by entering your ZIP code.
New Drop-Off Infrastructure: The Growing Reality
A significant shift in shredded paper recycling for 2025 and 2026 is the introduction of special drop-off centers managed by Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) in states with extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws.
Oregon’s RecycleOn Centers: At the RecycleOn Center in Ashland, the first of 144 planned statewide facilities under the Recycling Modernization Act, shredded paper is now collected, alongside aluminum foil, expanded polystyrene, and other items that frequently contaminate curbside bins. The network started in Southern Oregon and is expanding to Deschutes County, with the Portland metro region expecting new sites by 2026. Find local options at RecycleOn.org.
Following Oregon’s lead, California, Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota have passed similar EPR laws, with more states anticipated to develop similar drop-off infrastructure for hard-to-recycle materials, including shredded paper.
Professional Shredding Events and Services
Paper shredders are primarily used by businesses to safeguard confidential information. Many communities host free shredding events, often sponsored by banks, credit unions, or local government offices, where the shredded paper is reliably recycled instead of being sent to a landfill.
For large quantities of paper to be shredded, certified shredding services provide both security and environmental responsibility. For instance, Iron Mountain processes over 40,000 tons of material monthly at its secure facilities, recycling it and saving more than 4 million trees annually. Shred-it also recycles shredded materials whenever feasible, adhering to NAID AAA-certified procedures. When selecting a shredding service, look for the NAID AAA certification to ensure your paper is recycled, not merely destroyed.
Think Before You Shred
Optimal recycling strategies often begin before shredding. Typically, the data you wish to obscure is just one line, like a name or number. A permanent marker can conceal personal data; the ink is easily removed during recycling—allowing you to recycle the entire document intact. Intact paper holds higher value, is simpler for MRFs to process, and is more likely to complete the recycling process.
Only shred documents when necessary, such as tax records, medical files, financial statements, or documents containing full account numbers or Social Security numbers. For other papers, recycling the entire sheet is environmentally preferable.
If Recycling Isn’t an Option: Compost Or Reuse
Shredded paper serves as an excellent carbon source for composting, as it is already partially decomposed. You can add it to compost, but avoid glossy or heavily inked paper, which might contain harmful chemicals. Combine shredded paper with food scraps, leaves, and other organic materials for optimal results. Additionally, shredded paper can be reused as packing material or bedding for small animals like hamsters or rabbits, keeping it out of the trash.
Editor’s Note: Originally published on April 19, 2011, this article was updated in March 2026.
