What Happens to Paper Waste After It’s Shredded?

When paper waste gets shredded, there are a lot of places it can end up. From recycling to winding up in a landfill, there are a number of paths this waste can take. However, there are options out there to make sure your shredded paper waste gets disposed of properly, according to your organization’s policies, environmental regulations, and to give you the right peace of mind.

While there are multiple methods of disposing the waste from paper shredding in Fort Collins, Shred Monster recycles or reuses 100 percent of what we shred. Shred Monster’s vision is to reuse the waste instead of having it take up space in a dump. Landfills are not ideal because paper waste can take up a lot of room, and it takes a very long time for paper to decompose on its own.

Recycling & Composting

Shredded paper is much more commonly sent to recycling facilities as green initiatives and awareness heightens. The shredded paper gets mixed with water to create a pulp, which is then cleaned, re-inked, and reformed into paper sheets. It can also be made into other products such as toilet paper or paper towels. With Shred Monster’s process, some of the recycled paper can be back into circulation in as little as 30 days after shredding.

Shredded paper, especially if it comes from organic sources, can also be added to compost piles. This should only be used with white paper, as glossy or colored paper can have chemicals that shouldn’t be introduced to the compost. Adding shredded paper can help balance out the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in the compost, which can assist in the decomposition process.

Disposal That’s Safe & Secure

Many businesses and other organizations may have sensitive or confidential documents that they’ve shredded, and those need to be disposed of properly. Many professional shredding services will not only shred the documents, but also ensure their secure disposal. There are a number of methods to securely dispose of this sensitive material, but most common method for this is to mix the shredded documents with other shredded paper, making it virtually impossible to reconstruct the original documents.

If your documents need this type of confidentiality, it’s important to use a professional that disposes of it properly. It’s also important that the paper shredding company makes sure the client understands the process. That way, there’s peace of mind on both sides that things are being taken care of properly and securely. The steps in this process should include secure collection and strict chain of custody for all collected documents. Some companies will even provide scheduled services at the client’s location.

Landfills are the last place you want your shredded waste to end up, as it’s the least environmentally-friendly option. Getting your paper waste discarded securely can still be done through recycling, and it’s the best option overall. For more information on what happens with your shredded waste, reach out to the experts at Shred Monster today.