Due to the paper shredding culture, the paper recycling industry is demotivated. People prefer to shred paper rather than have it recycled to be reused again. 

Shredding paper completely destroys the recycling capacity of paper because of the breakage of fibres during this process.

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Only 66% of the total paper produced is recycled. The rest fills the landfills and sits on the surface of the earth. Shredded paper is also a part of that percentage.

Paper that sits on the surface of the soil releases toxins which contribute in making the land non-arable.

The recycled paper can be useful for paper towels, boxes and other paper related things.

• Is paper biodegradable?

Paper consists of cellulose which is biodegradable mass. Infact, cellulose can be very easily disintegrated to create animal feed. 

Amongst all the turn offs of paper shredding, one important factor is that it still can be bio-degraded naturally, but this is a very slow process and can take years. Until then, managing the shredded paper lot on the land is burdensome.

• What is paper dust?

Paper dust is the tiny, dry dust particles or power of paper that flows in the air as a residue of the manufacturing or processing of paper. 

Shredding paper on a big scale increases paper dust in the environment that pollutes the air.

Excessive breathing of air with paper dust can cause many severe respiratory diseases. 

• How does paper dust harm us?

When the quantity of dry dust exceeds the 5mg/m3 landmark, the air becomes highly toxic and polluted and the inhalation of such air is alarming as it increases the risk of lung impairment.  

These paper dust particles get stuck in the lining of the respiratory tract of the body, creating hindrance or atlast, blockage of air passage.

The mixture of paper dust with air particles also causes acid rain in the local area.