Mother Earth’s Garden

Shredding paper for compost

by Margaret on February 1st, 2007

Everyone who has a backyard compost bin knows the problem: too many wet sloppy kitchen scraps makes for a methane-emitting, sludgy mess. Since methane is one of the worst of greenhouse gasses it can really take the edge of our self righteousness as composters. But where is the average inner suburban dweller to get the dry sawdust or leaves that most compost books advice should be added to the bin along with the mushy stuff?

I have come up with a solution. We bought a cheap paper shredder from Australia post for about $40. Every now and again I set my daughter to shred old tax records and anything other paper around the place that I would rather not put out in the recycling. The result goes into the bin, and a quick turn with the compost worm (see my earlier post on this) and the whole thing is mixed to a nice, ideal plum-cake level of moisture and stickiness.

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