When will farmers and gardeners use waste paper such as newspaper to build soil?

Question

Why landfill when we can boost the organic content of soil.

Answer 1

Some of us farmers DO use newspapers.  However newspaper takes forever to decompose.  Even in the ultra rainy Pacific Northwest it takes YEARS.  

So I use newspapers for weed control.   So much better than using the plastic (because newpaper does eventually rott)!

In flower beds and plantings of small shrubs, I'll spread the newspaper pages, several papers thick (usually four or five).  Then over that, I'll put the mulch, or beauty bark.  

I use newspapers in the garden, to keep the garden paths weed free.  Just lay down layers of newpaper, and toss some dirt over it.  

To actually compost newspaper to make more soil, you need to shread it, and use worms.  The worms will do a great job, as long as the ink was soy based, and not toxic.  Problem is the idea of shreading masses of paper, and spreading tons of it over fields....not terribly practicle for the large scale farmer.  

Works great on our small permaculture farm however.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 2

Home gardeners compost paper

Answer 3

It isn't that easy. Newspaper mats worse than maple leaves. Tossing a newspaper into the compost pile is like tossing a log in there. It will last longer than the farmer does. What you can do effectively is use newspaper for mulch. It is quite effective but labor-intensive. Using paper as a soil amendment is even more labor-intensive unless you get it already shredded and that paper is usually high-quality, long-fibred paper that is better used for recycling.

Answer 4

Too much newspaper in your compost pile will just make it dry out faster. If you shred the paper and sprinkle it in it works a little better. Also, newspaper can be used to keep weeds out of your garden before you add the mulch. Farmers don;t usually add paper to their fields to build soil, because on its own paper will not build soil. You need to add it to the compost pile along with your manure.

Answer 5

More something for the urban gardener,being closer to big quantities of waste paper

,and i think few would think of it

The farmers that i know do not read enough news papers

lol

But your point is correct 70 % of landfill contamination comes from organics

And if everyone had a small compost heap this would not exist.

Answer 6

I have a friend who does vermicomposting. She uses newspapers in her bin all the time.

Answer 7

we already do. gardeners add it to compost to balance grass cuttings and other green soft stuff.

love the ethanol residue idea. it goes well in a biodigester too.

Answer 8

how about after extracting all the cellulosic ethanol possible out of it?

Answer 9

I do.  Our newspapers here in CT all use soy ink in printing.  The key to getting it to compost is to shred it very finely and make sure the pile is hot.