Junk mail that is made from plain dull paper can be shredded and composted at home if it is not left in its plastic wrap. Junk mail that is highly colored or contains a lot of ink should not be composted in a trash can or home pile.
it will take a long time to break down, it contains colored dyes that can end up in your compost, and it has very few nutrients that will benefit your garden.
This article will explore the types of junk mail that can be composted as well as those that you should avoid adding to your compost bin altogether.
types of spam that can be composted
These are the two types of spam that can be composted at home. this junk can be shredded and mixed into your compost with a garden fork. it will add carbon to your mix and prevent mail from ending up in a landfill.
1. plain paper
Any junk mail that’s made from plain, dull paper can be composted. this will have a matte or dull finish and will have minimal ink. plain paper can be shredded to help it break down even faster. you can sprinkle shredded paper over the compost and dig it out with a garden fork.
Shredded junk mail that is made from plain paper can also be used as a worm bed. you can put a one-inch layer in the bottom of the worm farm or use it to cover food scraps as you add them.
2. newspaper
It’s okay to put newspaper in your compost, as long as it’s separated into individual sheets or shredded. you can tear the newspaper into small pieces and soak it in water to help it break down even faster. just remember to mix it well with your compost so it doesn’t clump together.
The more surface area earthworms and soil bacteria can reach, the faster the newspaper will break down into finished compost.
junk mail that should not be composted
here are some types of spam that you should keep out of your subscription. these will be difficult for soil bacteria to break down, can upset the balance in your compost, and add stains and dyes to your soil.
1. magazines
avoid adding glossy magazines to your subscription. even if they are crushed, they will take a long time to break down. much glossy paper has a plastic coating that is difficult for soil bacteria to digest. plastic particles can still exist in your compost and end up in your soil.
magazines are not good for your compost, but they can be placed in your recycling bin. commercial facilities have machines that break down this product so it can be reused.
2. very colorful paper
Don’t put junk mail made from brightly colored paper in your compost bin. the ink is usually synthetic and difficult for soil bacteria to break down. the ink can stay in your compost and will end up mixing with your soil.
2. glossy paper
Avoid adding glossy paper to your compost bin. glossy paper may have a plastic coating on it that won’t break down into your compost for a long time. however, sparkly spam can be recycled, so don’t throw it away. throw it in the recycle bin.
3. junk mail wrapped in plastic
Do not put any plastic-wrapped junk mail directly into your compost. the plastic won’t break and spam will get caught. If the spam is on paper with minimal ink, is dull, or made from newspaper, you can take it out and compost it.
shred plain spam without the packaging to help it break down quickly.
4. thick cardboard or unshredded paper
Thick cardboard or paper added to your compost will take a long time to break down if not shredded or torn. thick paper or cardboard should be torn into 1- to 2-inch-wide pieces if possible. the cardboard strips will break down over time and become a great brown material for your compost.
how to compost regular mail
Regular mail, including letters that are made of plain paper without a plastic window, can be composted. It’s best to shred this paper to help it break down faster.
If you don’t have access to a shredder, take the paper out of the envelope and shred it into pieces. Soak the paper in a bucket of water for an hour to make it well hydrated. then you can pour the water and paper into your compost.
plain paper with little ink will break down over time in the compost bin. I would only add a small amount of paper, maybe 1-2 letters per month to avoid adding too much ink to your compost. paper also has a high carbon content but low nutritional value, which is why it is considered a brown material.
Add shredded paper with other brown materials like straw, hay, and sugar cane mulch to give earthworms and soil bacteria a variety of feeding materials. a compost pile with lots of variety will help keep it in balance, add a range of nutrients, and make it the perfect ingredient to improve your soil.
can I compost the junk mail? | summary
Junk mail can be composted if it isn’t made of bright, colorful paper or cardboard. Shred the paper in a shredder or break it into small pieces before adding it to your compost. soak the paper or spray it with a hose to hydrate it and help it break down as quickly as possible.
Remember to keep about a 1:3 ratio of green to brown material in your compost bin. Junk mail is a brown material and breaks down quickly when mixed with fall leaves, straw, hay, and coffee grounds.
happy composting.