The paper filter is fine and will work, but I just had to order a regular old filter. I only had one styrofoam element cover and it fell apart and was missing a piece even before I pulled it out of the plastic bag. Where is the 2nd? It can't be that hard to "count to two and then pack with a filter", can it? In either case, the glue holding the foam rubber together is useless. It would fall apart if I tried to use it anyway. Save money and buy 2 filters and get rid of foam waste.