Shredded paper (from a home/office paper shredder) is one of the best carbon-rich bedding materials you can add to a worm farm—as long as you prepare and use it correctly. This guide covers what to use, what to avoid, and how to keep your bin healthy and odor-free.

Why shredded paper works

Composting worms (commonly “red wigglers”) thrive in bedding that is:

  • Carbon-rich (balances nitrogen-heavy food scraps)
  • Moist but airy (holds water while allowing oxygen flow)
  • Microbe-friendly (worms primarily consume microbes living on the bedding/food)

Shredded paper excels at moisture retention and creates a fluffy structure—when it’s kept damp and loose.

What paper shredder waste is safe

  • Plain office paper
  • Non-glossy junk mail
  • Newspaper
  • Paper bags (brown kraft)
  • Cardboard (shredded or torn into strips)

Use sparingly

  • Lightly colored paper
  • Window envelopes (remove the plastic window)

Avoid

  • Glossy magazine pages or heavily coated paper
  • Thermal receipt paper
  • Paper with strong chemical odor or “waxy” coating
  • Heavily dyed construction paper (often dye-heavy)

The most important step: pre-moisten the shreds

The #1 mistake is adding shredded paper dry (it wicks moisture away from worms) or adding it packed (it mats and turns anaerobic).

Proper prep

  1. Shred the paper (cross-cut shreds are ideal, but strip shreds also work).
  2. Put shreds in a bucket or tub.
  3. Add water and let soak 10–30 minutes.
  4. Squeeze handfuls until it’s like a wrung-out sponge:
    • Damp and cool
    • No dripping when squeezed
    • Fluffy and springy, not clumped

If it drips a lot → too wet (add dry bedding, fluff, increase airflow).
If it feels dusty/crispy → too dry (mist or re-soak).

How much to add (bedding vs. food)

Shredded paper is primarily bedding, not worm “food” by itself.

A practical rule of thumb:

  • 2–3 parts bedding : 1 part food scraps (by volume)

Each time you add kitchen scraps:

  • Bury the scraps under the bedding.
  • Cover with a layer of damp shredded paper.

This simple routine dramatically reduces:

  • Fruit flies
  • Odors
  • Overheating from “hot” food piles

Best results: blend paper with other bedding

Paper alone can work, but mixing improves airflow and stability.

Good bedding partners:

  • Shredded cardboard (adds structure)
  • Coco coir (moisture buffering)
  • Aged leaves (microbial variety)
  • A handful of finished compost (microbe inoculation)
  • Crushed eggshells (helps buffer acidity)

Common mistakes and fixes

Dry bedding additions

Problem: Worms flee or hang at the edges; bin looks dusty.
Fix: Pre-soak paper; lightly mist; mix bedding through the top few inches.

Compaction and “paper mats”

Problem: Sour smell, slimy zones, paper forms sheets.
Fix: Fluff and mix; add coarse bedding (cardboard strips); avoid packing.

Too much food / not enough bedding

Problem: Ammonia or rotting smell, gnats/flies, overheating.
Fix: Reduce feeding; add lots of damp bedding; bury food deeper.

Too much bedding / not enough nitrogen

Problem: Bin looks “clean” but progress is slow.
Fix: Add modest food scraps; consider adding a small amount of aged compost to seed microbes.

How to tell it’s working

Healthy bins with shredded paper typically show:

  • Paper slowly disappearing over weeks
  • Earthy smell (not sour or ammonia)
  • Worms distributed through the bedding
  • Moist, crumbly texture (not sludge)

If worms are trying to escape or clustering at the sides/top, check:

  • Moisture (too wet or too dry)
  • Temperature (too hot)
  • Acidity (add crushed eggshells, reduce citrus/onion, add bedding)

Simple routine you can follow

  1. Keep a 3–6 inch bedding layer.
  2. Feed scraps in small pockets (rotate locations).
  3. Always cover scraps with damp shredded paper.
  4. Fluff the top layer occasionally to prevent matting.
  5. Add bedding whenever the bin starts to look dense or wet.

Quick checklist

  • Use mostly non-glossy paper/cardboard
  • Always pre-soak and wring out
  • Keep bedding fluffy (avoid mats)
  • Maintain a bedding-to-food balance (about 2–3:1)
  • Cover food to control flies and odor