[FLPERMACULTURE] newsprint and cardboard OK to compost?

[Joel and Sarah Gagnon]

I also use newspaper and cardboard on a limited basis. I tend to use them 
when establishing new beds as an "underlayment" barrier layer overtopped by 
other mulch materials. I don't use them more extensively because I wonder 
what might be in them that we don't know about. For example, colored 
newsprint still produces nice colored flames when burned, indicating the 
presence of metals. Changing the ink base from a petroleum base to a soy 
base does not necessarily change the metallic sources for the colors. While 
plant-based dyes could be used, it still looks to me like assuming that 
they are is a bit of a leap of faith. Since the proliferation of color in 
the newspaper is making it much harder to exclude colored paper, the inks 
deserve more scrutiny.

Joel Gagnon

At 10:02 AM 12/4/06 -0500, you wrote:
>Several years ago I was wondering the same thing, so I called the Ithaca
>Journal to ask what type of ink they use in their paper. They had switched
>over from a metal-based ink to a soy-based ink for cost reasons, so
>presumably it is safe to use the Journal as mulch. I still err on the side
>of caution, and only use newspaper on ornamental plantings and straw, hay
>or compost on edible plantings.
>
>Brown cardboard with no printing on it is also safe to use. Take out the
>big staples first so they don't end up in your soil.
>
>--Chrys Gardener
>
>
>
>At 01:34 AM 12/4/2006, Margaret McCasland wrote:
> >A question came up on the Sustainable Tompkins list-serve.
> >Does anyone know how safe newspapers and regular (brown) cardboard
> >are to use as mulch in gardens or yards?
> >Are there  potential hazards, such as chemicals we don't want in out
> >soil, groundwater or plants?  They presumably are chlorine-free (not
> >being bleached), so they shouldn't be a source of dioxins.
> >Thanks, Margaret
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>Chrys Gardener
>Community Beautification Coordinator
>615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca NY 14850
>607-272-2292, extension 123
>http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/tompkins/community_beautification/index.htm
>
>
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