Composting Newspaper: A Sustainable Way to Reduce Waste and Improve Soil Health

Every year, millions of tons of newspaper end up in landfills, causing harm to the environment. However, there is a solution that not only reduces waste but also improves soil health: composting newspaper. In this article, we will explore the benefits of composting newspaper, how to do it, and some tips for success.

What is Composting?

Composting is the process of breaking down organic material, such as food scraps and yard waste, into nutrient-rich soil. It's a natural way to recycle waste and create a healthy soil amendment for your garden or lawn. Composting can be done on a small scale, like in a backyard compost bin, or on a larger scale, like in municipal compost facilities.

The Benefits of Composting Newspaper

Newspaper is a great source of carbon for composting. Carbon is an essential ingredient in compost because it helps balance the nitrogen-rich materials, like kitchen scraps and grass clippings. When newspaper is added to compost, it helps create pockets of air that allow oxygen to flow through the pile. This is important for composting because oxygen helps break down the organic material more quickly and prevents the pile from becoming compacted.

In addition, using newspaper in composting helps divert waste from landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, paper and paperboard products make up the largest portion of municipal solid waste in the United States. By composting newspaper instead of throwing it away, you are helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

How to Compost Newspaper

Composting newspaper is easy and can be done in just a few steps:

1. Shred the newspaper into small pieces. This will help speed up the composting process and prevent the newspaper from clumping together.
2. Add the shredded newspaper to your compost pile. Be sure to mix it in with other compostable materials, like food scraps and yard waste.
3. Keep the compost pile moist. The newspaper will absorb moisture, so be sure to keep the pile damp but not soaking wet.
4. Turn the compost pile regularly. This helps aerate the pile and ensure that all of the organic material is breaking down evenly.
5. Wait for the compost to finish. Depending on the size of your compost pile and the materials used, composting can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Tips for Successful Composting

Composting can be a bit tricky at first, but with a few tips, you'll be on your way to creating nutrient-rich soil for your garden or lawn:

• Mix "browns" and "greens." Browns refer to carbon-rich materials, like newspaper and dried leaves, while greens refer to nitrogen-rich materials, like kitchen scraps and grass clippings. Mixing browns and greens in a 3:1 ratio (browns to greens) will help create a balanced compost pile.
• Avoid adding meat, dairy, or oily foods to your compost pile. These materials can attract pests and slow down the composting process.
• Keep your compost pile covered. This helps retain moisture and heat, which are essential for composting.
• Use a compost thermometer to check the temperature of your compost pile. The ideal temperature for composting is between 135°F and 160°F.

Newspaper composting in action.

Composting newspaper is a simple and sustainable way to reduce waste and improve soil health. By adding shredded newspaper to your compost pile, you are helping to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your garden or lawn, while also diverting waste from landfills. With a few tips and tricks, you'll be on your way to successful composting in no time.

Newspaper, composting, sustainability, waste reduction, soil health