Can You Compost Newspaper?
Yes. Plain newsprint is a useful brown, roughly 175:1 C:N, once shredded or torn into strips. University extension guides routinely list it as fine for home compost. Pull out glossy inserts first.
At a glance
| Home compost pile | Yes |
|---|---|
| Green or brown | Brown (carbon-rich) |
| Carbon to nitrogen | about 175:1 (approximate) |
| Moisture | Dry |
| Prep | Shred or tear |
| Worm bin | Yes |
| Bokashi | With care |
How to compost newspaper
Tear or shred pages into strips about 1 in (2–3 cm) wide and crumple them loosely rather than adding folded sections. Mix them with wet greens; they soak up moisture and cut smells. Use newspaper alongside other browns rather than as your only one.
Several sheets of newspaper under mulch also make a simple weed barrier for new beds.
What goes wrong
Stacked or folded pages form wet, airless mats that last for months. Shred them and mix them in. If a pile turns soggy and smelly, a few handfuls of newspaper strips are a quick fix.
Worm bins and bokashi
Worm bin: Shredded, damp newspaper is a classic worm bin bedding.
Bokashi: A sheet or two at the bottom of a bokashi bucket helps soak up liquid, but don't add much more than that.
This counts as a brown. Adding a lot of it? Check the balance with the compost mix calculator.
From hopcompost.com/can-you-compost/newspaper/ · General guidance, not professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is newspaper ink safe for compost?
Standard newsprint is widely considered fine for home compost. Skip glossy color inserts, which carry coatings.
Can you compost shredded paper?
Yes. Office paper and shredded mail compost like newspaper. Remove plastic windows and skip glossy or thermal receipt paper.
Is newspaper a green or a brown?
Brown. It's carbon-rich and dry, so pair it with greens like kitchen scraps.