How to Compost Paper
Composting paper is an eco-friendly way to recycle old newspapers and junk mail. Paper is rich in carbon, which works with the nitrogen in fresh plants like grass clippings. Together, these materials break down to make "black gold." It is safer than once thought to compost paper. Many newspaper printers use organic materials like soy-based inks, and cartons are made of starches from potatoes or corn. Take care to avoid materials that can be harmful to the soil. With a few precautions, the home gardener can easily build a compost pile with paper. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Gather and sort the paper. Plain black and white newsprint is best. Remove the glossy inserts because they may contain harmful chemicals. Junk mail, brown paper bags, paper towels, and cardboard boxes without glossy printing are also safe. Remove metal and plastic items such as staples and paper clips from the paper.
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Shred or tear the paper into small pieces to help it mix into the pile better. Or, if there is lots of paper, soak it in a bucket of water until it turns to mush.
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Gather "green" materials. Green materials are plant wastes such as grass clippings, vegetable peelings and coffee grounds. This will help balance the pile because paper is a "brown" material and equal parts of both types of organic substances make compost.
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Choose a space for the compost pile. The pile should be about three to five feet in length and in width. It should be in a spot that can get sunlight for at least half the day and is not blocked during the rain. Make sure it is easy to walk to it or to dig into it.
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Decide on a way to contain the pile and put it in place. You can use a commercial compost bin or build walls for the pile out of wooden boards or chicken wire. Some people do not use any frames and simply leave the materials in a heap. The pile can be square or round.
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Make a foundation for the pile in the selected bin or spot. This should include bulky organic items such as wood chips or autumn leaves. Lay down about 12 inches of these materials.
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Lay about three to four inches of shredded or soaked paper on the top of the previous layer.
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Add about an inch of soil or finished compost on top of the paper.
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Place a three- or four-inch-thick layer of green materials on top of the paper and soil.
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Water the pile. It should be moist, but not sopping wet.
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Repeat steps 7 through 10 until the compost pile is about three to four feet high. Do not make the pile so high that you can't easily work with it.
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Turn the compost pile about once a week. Using a shovel or pitchfork, dig into the pile. Mix the outer material into the center and bring the dry materials into the middle. This will keep the paper from clumping and help it to break down faster. The compost will be finished in three months or longer and will look like rich black soil.
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References
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- Photo Credit NEWSPAPER image by huimin from Fotolia.com
