I'm not putting any more newspaper in my compost bin. It is not decomposing. What it is doing is making big oval paper mache looking shapes. And they are very difficult to break apart. So from now on I'm sticking to just leaves and grass clippings. Those work really well for me but not the other stuff.

Any ideas on how I can get the newspaper ovals to breakdown? Or should I just bury what I have and hope that it takes care of itself some time between now and when I get to that section of the weed patch?

When did you start this pile/newspapers???

Well I only have the one bin so what's it been 2 months? I'm really not sure Weezie. My time sense is just one of the things about my mind that doesn't work very well.

I'd give it time Grasshopper,
give it time...

*Patience is a virture*
And when you can snatch the pebble from
my hand, it is time for the compost to be done...

Mother Nature takes a long time to do her composting...

The only way you can get your paper to decompose faster is to get a shredder...

A rule of thumb in composting to remember is.....
The more edges'/surface's of an item you can give it, the faster it will decompose....

Larger pieces take wayyyyy longer than a bunch
of tiny~tiny~tiny one's....

Thanks Weezie. I guess I just got spoiled because the leaves decomposed so quickly.

Ok well that answered my question about the newpaper. Just got used paper shredder. But my other question is how much and i'm not to use colored paper right. thanks dee

Ladybug~Dee,

No colored paper......
No glossy paper......

and you want about a 75% Brown ratio
to about 25% Green ratio............

And paper is green or brown???? lol If the paper has some color i can use it either right.

Nope, paper is BROWN....

Ummmmm, to be totally honest...
I only use newspaper, brown grocery bags, coffeefilters and some paper nakins..
That's it in the paper dept for me....

I have unlimited browns, when I do leaves,
garden trimmings, ie: corn stalks, the flower stalks from holihocks, hosta flowers, hibiscus flowers, etc..., and saw dust or wood chips (from like cut up trees or doing woodworking)..