For the first time, a new carbon-carbon composite electrode material for supercapacitors is prepared by simple KOH activation of waste newspaper. The amorphous nature and surface morphology of the carbon composite are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption/desorption and scanning electron microscopy. The Surface area and pore diameter are 416 m(2) g(-1) and 5.9 rim, respectively. Electrochemical characteristics are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and charge-discharge tests in 6.0 M KOH at a 1 mA cm(-2) current density. The CV results reveal a maximum specific capacitance of 180 Fg(-1) at a 2 mV s(-1) scan rate and the data explore a development of new use for waste paper into a valuable energy storage material. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.