Recycling confetti shredded paper
🎉 Confetti Shreds: The Hidden Challenge in Paper Recycling
At first glance, confetti shredded paper might seem festive, harmless—even ideal for secure disposal. But behind those tiny-sized bits lies a recycling headache that most mills would rather avoid. At Paper Chase, we accept confetti shreds when we can, but it’s important to understand why they’re so tricky to process—and how you can help.
🧩 Why Confetti Shreds Are Hard to Recycle
Unlike traditional shredded paper, which comes in long strips, confetti shreds are tiny fragments. That difference matters:
Short fibers, low binding power: Recycling relies on paper fibers bonding together to form new sheets. Confetti shreds are too short to bind effectively, making them poor candidates for reuse.
Dust and contamination: These tiny pieces can clog machinery, mix with non-paper materials, and create dust that complicates processing.
Mill rejection risk: Most recycling mills won’t accept confetti shreds on their own. We often must combine them into bins of longer strips to make them viable—and even then, it’s a delicate balance.
💸 Pricing and Processing at Paper Chase
We do our best to accommodate confetti shreds, but it does take extra effort:
Starts at $10 per grocery bag: For paper that we shred and recycle ourselves. This is the most secure and environmentally sustainable. You receive a Certificate of Destruction, proof that your documents were destroyed, and the knowledge that the fiber will be made into new products.
50% discount for small amounts: If it’s already shredded, we offer a discount. We cannot take large amounts of already shredded paper.
Blending strategy: We mix confetti into bins of standard shredded paper to help it pass mill standards—but this only works in small amounts.
🌱 What You Can Do
If you're shredding at home, please consider:
Using strip-cut shredders: These produce longer fibers that are easier to recycle.
Separating confetti from regular shreds: Helps us process more efficiently.
Asking before dropping off: We’re happy to advise based on current guidelines.
🕊️ Our Commitment
At Paper Chase, we don’t just shred—we steward. We monitor recycling standards and do everything we can to keep paper out of landfills. Even the tiniest pieces deserve thoughtful handling.
