How can i shred cardboard for my compost bin?

Question

I need to add quite a lot of cardboard to my compost bin. Its quite tedious ripping it up by hand all the time, would a paper shredder shred it perhaps or would a garden shredder be better.

Thanks to anyone taking the time to respond.

Answer 1

run over it with your lawnmower

Answer 2

I wouldn't put it in a paper shredder. I have ruined two machines by trying to shred cardboard in them.

Answer 3

Slash it with a stanley knife, into 2-3" wide strips.

Then rip it into strips by hand. Run a mower over the strips if you want to. A paper shredder won't do it

Answer 4

Soak it in water in a large Tupperware first. It should become very easy to tear. I had a huge box that I bought a pergola kit in that pretty much self-destructed after being rained on.

You don't have to make the pieces very small. The worms love to go in the corrugations. Just make sure it is nice and damp before putting it in your compost.

Another way to compost it is under mulch. Just lay it down and pile mulch on it. It will really discourage the weeds.

Answer 5

Make it wet first. It would bung up a garden shredder unless to mixed it with brushwood.