Can You Recycle Shredded Paper in New Jersey?
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Shredded paper can be recycled, but that does not mean it belongs in your regular curbside recycling bin. For New Jersey households and offices, the practical question is which collection stream accepts it—and how that program wants it prepared.
Do not leave confidential documents intact just to make them easier to recycle. First decide whether they are ready for destruction, then protect the information, and finally use a collection route that accepts the resulting material. Those are separate decisions.
Why shredded paper needs a separate recycling route
The NJDEP recycling FAQ says not to put shredded office paper in the ordinary recycling bucket. It explains that recyclable-material processing facilities cannot effectively sort it and that separate collection helps produce a marketable commodity. Paper fragments can also contaminate other materials being processed.
Importantly, NJDEP also says some local programs collect shredded paper in bags under special requirements. That is not permission to put any bag of shreds beside your regular recycling. It means the receiving program’s specific instructions matter.
There is no reason to treat an A5-size cutoff or a claim that all shredded paper goes to landfill as a universal New Jersey rule. The agency guidance instead distinguishes ordinary mixed collection from separate shredded-paper recycling. A sealed paper bag is not an automatic solution unless the program expressly accepts that packaging and collection method.
Ocean County shows why local instructions matter
Ocean County’s Recycle at Home guidance lists shredded paper among materials excluded from its curbside single-stream recycling and says it may be brought to special drop-off areas at both recycling centers.
This is an Ocean County example, not a statewide drop-off entitlement. Before traveling, confirm the current location, hours, eligibility, packaging and quantity rules with the receiving program. Residents should not assume that a household collection option accepts commercial office loads. Businesses should ask separately about their material and volume.
The NJDEP and county pages were checked for this review. They are ongoing recycling guidance, not announcements of a new October 2026 law. Local instructions can change, so verify them again before your next disposal trip.
Choose the route before filling the bin
| What you have | Practical next step | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Readable confidential records | Check retention and holds, then arrange appropriate destruction. | Ordinary recycling provides confidential handling. |
| Paper already shredded at home | Ask your municipal or county recycling office which separate route accepts it. | Bagging makes it acceptable in the mixed curbside bin. |
| A large office cleanout | Ask the destruction provider about accepted materials, secure handling and the recycling destination. | A household drop-off program accepts business loads. |
| A mixed box of paper and other items | Obtain the receiving service’s preparation list before collection. | Plastic cards, electronics or other non-paper items belong in the paper stream. |
Ask these questions about already-shredded paper
- Acceptance: Do you accept paper that has already been shredded, or only intact documents for destruction?
- Packaging: Must the material be loose, contained in a particular bag or placed in a designated container?
- Eligibility: Is this route for residents, businesses or both? Are there quantity limits?
- Material restrictions: What should be removed, and are any paper types excluded?
- Handling: If fragments remain readable, what safeguards apply before further processing?
Until you have an accepted destination, keep the material contained and protected from wind and unauthorized access. Do not open bags into a mixed recycling cart hoping they will be sorted later. If the instructions are unclear, contact the local recycling coordinator rather than guessing.
Confidential destruction comes before material recovery
For businesses and public entities, New Jersey’s longstanding customer-record destruction law, section 11 of P.L. 2005, c. 226, addresses customer records containing personal information that are no longer to be retained. It requires destruction, or arranging destruction, so that the information is unreadable, undecipherable or nonreconstructable through generally available means. It does not make every paper document immediately eligible for shredding.
Applicable retention requirements and legal holds come first. For household files, the FTC’s June 10, 2025 keep-or-shred guide likewise distinguishes records to retain from documents ready to discard. An office can use its document retention policy to organize the release decision before scheduling destruction.
Recycling acceptance alone does not establish secure destruction. When comparing paper shredding services in New Jersey, ask how records are protected before destruction, what completion documentation is provided and how paper is routed afterward. Destruction documentation and evidence of recycling answer different questions; do not treat one as proof of the other.
Frequently asked questions
Can shredded paper ever be recycled?
Yes. NJDEP explains that separate collection can support recycling. The obstacle is putting shreds into an unsuitable mixed collection stream, not a statewide rule that shredded paper is never recyclable.
Can I put shreds in a paper bag in my curbside bin?
Only follow that approach if your local program specifically instructs you to do so. NJDEP notes special bagged collection arrangements, but they are not universal.
Can a shredding company take paper I already shredded?
Ask before arranging service. Acceptance, preparation, minimum quantities, charges and documentation depend on the actual service offered. Do not assume an existing document-shredding option includes loose-shred recycling.
Plan your next document cleanout
Tell New Jersey Shredding your ZIP code, approximate quantity and whether the paper is intact or already shredded. Request a quote or call (201) 371-5900 to confirm available options, preparation instructions and documentation before moving your records.
