The large volume of paper on the market and the decline in availability of conventional bedding because of dry weather increased interest in paper as a bedding material. The wet spring of 1992 made farmers consider it once again. Farmers use paper bedding both from a centralized processing center and on-farm processing. While the price for newspaper may fluctuate, it generally stays below the price of other bedding materials, and when the higher absorbency of shredded newspaper is factored into the price, paper is very competitive. Another economic benefit to all citizens is the reduction of newspaper reaching landfills.
Recent legislation requires counties to reduce the amount of material being placed in landfills.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics show that newspaper accounts for 6 percent of the solid waste stream in landfills. Developing ways to permanently divert newspaper from landfill disposal can lower this figure. In an Ohio State University study, the absorbency of conventional beddings and newsprint were compared. Chopped and shredded paper were used to determine which size provided greatest absorption. Newspaper is two to three times more absorbent than all other conventional beddings.