Newspaper in the Compost Pile?

Here's what "Weblife: Humanure Handbook" has to say:

"Yes, newspaper will compost, but there are some concerns about newsprint. For one, the glossy pages are covered with a clay that retards composting. For another, the inks can be petroleum-based solvents or oils with pigments containing toxic substances such as chromium, lead and cadmium in both black and colored inks. Pigment for newspaper ink still comes from benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and other benzene ring hydrocarbons which may be quite harmful to human health if accumulated in the food chain. Fortunately, quite a few newspapers today are using soy-based inks instead of petroleum-based inks. If you really want to know about the type of ink in your newspaper, call your newspaper office and ask them. Otherwise, keep the glossy paper or colored pages in your compost to a minimum.

Remember, ideally, compost is being made to use for producing human food. One should try to keep the contaminants out of it, if possible.

"Wood’s End Laboratory in Maine did some research on composting ground up telephone books and newsprint, which had been used as bedding for dairy cattle. The ink in the paper contained common cancer-causing chemicals, but after composting it with dairy cow manure, the dangerous chemicals were reduced by 98%. So it appears that if you’re using shredded newspaper for bedding under livestock, you should compost it, if for no other reason than to eliminate some of the toxic elements from the newsprint. It’ll probably make acceptable compost too, especially if layered with garbage, manure, and other organic materials."

( http://www.weblife.org/humanure/chapter3_12.html )

And here's what the "Master Composter" site has to say:

"With regard to composting newspapers with black ink, I have only heard one mention of controversy. Otherwise, I have found that composting newspapers is acceptable. (As mentioned above, it is not usually recommended for use in a backyard pile because of the problems of matting, low nutrient value and slow decomposition.) The one controversial source was the book "Let It Rot" by Stu Campbell. He says that the carbon black ink contains polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which are a known carcinogen. Stu says

"Although the jury is still out, most scientific research to date indicates that PAHs are rendered inert by the temperatures of a hot compost pile, the biological activity, and the acids in the soil. Most newspaper inks no longer contain heavy metals, and most colored newsprint now uses vegetable dyes, so as long as you don't intensively compost with newspapers you can use it as a carbon source."

"With regard to newspapers, A Green Guide to Yard Care published by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission says, "Most inks today are safe for garden use." To be completely safe, call your newspaper and ask about the ink or use compost made from newspapers on non-edibles like your lawn, ornamentals, flowers, and trees, rather than your vegetable garden.

"Do NOT compost advertising inserts. Ad inserts are printed by someone other than the newspaper. Most companies still print inserts with heavy metal inks, especially the glossy ones. Some colored inks have heavy metals in them which, in large quantities, are toxic to microorganisms. Small quantities such as the occasional colored ad in the newspaper have negligible effects.

"With society's emphasis on recycling, most newspapers have started using vegetable dyes for colored advertisements and the comics. (If your newspaper uses vegetable dyes, you can compost the comics, too.)

Unfortunately, there is no way to be certain which dye they use by looking at the printed page. To make sure, call your local newspaper and ask them if they use vegetable dyes."

( http://www.mastercomposter.com/ref/orgmat4.html)

Newspaper ink in the U.S. is now almost entirely soy-based, and non-toxic.

Newsprint is not bleached, and bleached paper stock is not necessarily harmful or toxic. Conditions are mandated by state and federal legislation, and are monitored by a variety of agencies, like EPA, for manufacturer compliance.

Paper borne substances to avoid are shiny coatings on paper (like glossy magazines), and plastic tape on boxes. They don't belong in your compost. Brown paper tapes on cartons from many sources are now fully biodegradable, and use the same plant starch glues found in corrugation.