Got lots of Cardboard for Composting

[beezybody]

I got lots of cardboard boxes in the attic and I want to do my spring cleaning soon. I am entertaining thoughts of making a pile.

Questions:

1. Do I need to shred?

2. If so, how do I shred it? Can I use my portable shredder at home?

3. Can i use all of my cardboard boxes---corrugated or not?

4. How about plastic packing tape?

[John S.]

You don't need to shred. Just remove the plastic tapes and metal staples and pile it.

I avoid using colored cardboard because the colored inks may be toxic to soil and the worms.

[beezybody]

I got lots of boxes with colored ink, perhaps i can use this for my compost pile?

[farmerpiper]

When I made my pile last summer, my main brownies were mostly shredded cardboard and paper. i thoroughly wet the cardboard and papers before putting them with the pile. The pile is almost unrecognizable now.

[fleurdelys]

I think in general the inks on the boxes would be ok. As suggested, try wetting them down so they'd break down easily. Alternatively, you can try using these cardboard for lasagna composting. Most cardboard manufacturers are moving to soy based inks which are (I believe) organic and soluble. However, to be on the safe side, I usually remove the printed parts of the cardboard and use the corrugated side.

[dandelion]

Don't waste your time and sweat for shredding cardboards specially the corrugated ones when using them for compost.

Corrugated cardboards are more effective to use rather than the usual cardboards. Try lasagna composting like what @fleurdelys mentioned. It's layering cardboards like in a giant lasagna casserole.

Cardboards are rich in carbon plus the oxygen that is trapped inside the corrugated paper make a good tandem for composting. Then add food wastes, leaves, manure, and other organic matter to make a healthier compost.

[cosmic_girl]

Originally Posted by dandelion

Don't waste your time and sweat for shredding cardboards specially the corrugated ones when using them for compost.

Not to mention that the cardboard is also heavy...

Originally Posted by dandelion

Corrugated cardboards are more effective to use rather than the usual cardboards. Try lasagna composting like what @fleurdelys mentioned. It's layering cardboards like in a giant lasagna casserole.

Great idea! It's also less effort because I read that lasagna composting doesn't require you to dig it every so often.

[garden ann]

I find it hard when i don't shred my paper and also when i use thin cardboards.

But i think and my worms think that corrugated cardboards are the best!

Maybe it's because of the corrugations which makes aeration easier and my corrugated cardboards are not shiny--it has no colored coatings.

[krissy]

i shred cardboards by hand especially those which are not corrugated.

That will prevent if from clumping together and creating an anaerobic environment that can eventually lead to stinky conditions

[sakura]

I think shredding would be a personal preference now. I'd rather shred them to ensure faster breakdown, and I'm able to mix them with the rest of the heap to prevent clumping.

I think most cardboards use glue that's made from cellulose fibers, so it's easily broken down. Just remove tape, staples and other sticky labels before adding them to your pile.

[Edward12]

I soaked the cardboards I had overnight, unlike paper that needs to be soaked only for a few minutes to become saturated through and through.

[honeylemon]

I have read that corrugated cardboards are not only good as an additive value to a compost heap but they are also good for mulching..

[dandelion]

Well, that's good news. At last, there's something we can use that doesn't cost us money. I'm on the lookout for boxes and cartons now.