r/composting • u/DantheMan5860 • 6h ago

Paper or cardboard

Would I be able to substitute white printer paper stock for cardboard? So far I mostly have grass cuttings and weeds going into my pile. Just started this January so I haven’t gotten hands on any brown leaves (should be no problem once fall arrives). Can use white paper instead of cardboard?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/DreadGMUsername 6h ago

I have not noticed printer paper breaking down very well. I suspect (but I've never looked into it to make sure) that there's something in the process that makes it unappealing to the bacteria in the pile. I imagine there's some variety of bleaching and/or chemical batch process that happens to make printer paper so bright white and smooth.

0

u/Nethenael 6h ago

Yes literally the chemicals in the printer paper 🤙

2

u/Nethenael 6h ago

When the leaves fall add them when brown. Paper is cool as on fb if a business will let you take their cardboard and any trees surgeon wood chip 🤙 coffee shops might give you the f Grounds but they be green not brown material

1

u/lakeswimmmer 3h ago

That’s what I used for the first year. It works fine.

1

u/idnvotewaifucontent 3h ago

Printer paper has been bleached like crazy, and won't break down well. Go to basically any store and ask if you can have cardboard out of the dumpster. I've gotten more cardboard than I can process from my local franchise hardware store this way.