A binman has shed some light on how to recycle properly.Ashley Patrone and Eilidh Farquhar Trainee Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer
09:03, 27 Oct 2026Updated 07:52, 28 Oct 2026
A viral binman has settled the debate surrounding shredded paper.(Image: Richard Baker/Getty Images)
When it comes to throwing away rubbish, plenty of us can admit we are guilty of not being sure about what items can be recycled and which should be thrown in the general waste. With households also now having multiple bins, this has left many people confused as to what goes in which.
One of the most confusing aspects is when it comes to shredded paper. While it is clear that regular pieces of paper can be placed in your council area’s designated recycling bin, the rules around what to do with shredded paper vary.
While many would assume recycling shredded paper would be the right call, some councils reject it due to its loose nature or have restricted how it is presented in order to be recycled – for example placed in an empty cereal box, reports The Express. As this can create confusion for many Brits, a popular binman has set the record straight.
Ashley, otherwise known as The No1 Binman, has taken to TikTok to settle the debate, taking one clear side of the argument. Captioning the viral clip, he has urged households to “stop putting shredded paper in your paper bin”.
Some councils reject shredded paper from being recycled.(Image: Getty Images)
Taking to the social media platform, he said: “It’s [shredded paper] not recyclable because you broke it down too much. It’s too much effort and costs too much money to recycle it in your normal [recycling] bins. So don’t put it in there.”
On top of this, he argues that putting shredded paper in the recycling bins means binmen have to work harder, especially if the weather takes a windier turn – something Scots are currently experiencing.
Scotland is currently under a yellow wind warning until 9pm this evening (October 27), with gusts expected to reach up to 70mph in areas such as the Inner Hebrides.
Ashley explained: “When we tip it when it’s cold, windy, and wet, it goes everywhere, and then we have to try and get it off the floor, sweeping it up – it all sticks to the floor. It’s horrible.”
Due to shredded paper typically not being able to be recycled, the binman recommends that households throw it into their general waste bins. This is especially important if your council rejects shredded paper in recycling bins.
However, if your local council does accept shredded paper, Ashley has outlined steps to follow to make the lives of binmen easier. He advises putting in the shredded paper in a Primark bag or a paper bag so the pieces don’t fly away everywhere.
Why can’t I recycle shredded paper at home?
The main reason that some councils reject shredded paper being put in recycling bins is due to some paper mills not being able to process it.
This is because the shredded paper weakens it and in turn causes problems for paper mills, such as fire hazard issues and maintenance.
Therefore, if your local council does not collect shredded paper in the recycling, either place it into the general waste or take it to a paper bank. Alternatively, you could place non-glossy shredded paper in the bottom of the food waste bin to help soak up any liquid and help prevent dripping.
Shredded paper could also be added to a household’s home compost. However, this is only allowed if the paper is not glossy or coloured as these can contain chemicals that can be harmful to plants.