Paper and cardboard provide a good carbon source for composting, and they are also used for sheet mulching and lasagna gardening, but is it safe to use paper and cardboard in the garden?
Bleached paper contains chlorine and dioxin, a known carcinogen. Inks contain heavy metals and BPA is used in some types of paper. Much of this paper is recycled and the recycled paper contains these various chemicals. Is it safe to compost paper and cardboard?
Sheet mulching, also called lasagna method or lasagna gardening, is a popular technique for creating a new garden. Some people even use it as an annual mulching system to keep weeds down.
Lots of people claim success with the technique because it does kill grass and weed plants. Others claim that sheet mulching reduces the oxygen levels in the soil, thereby harming the biology in the soil. Which side of the argument is correct? Should you be using sheet mulching in the garden?
