Recycling shredded paper (merged)

MissG_2

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

I hope I've put this on the correct board, if I haven't, can someone please move me !

I keep and about once a fornight shred everything with my name/address on but don't know what to do with the shreddings (I haven't got a rabbit or know anyone with one that I could give them to).

Some of the shredded paper will include envelopes and these should not be included in my paper recycling bag because of the glue. So what should I do with it (clean answers only please).

What do you do with yours?

Ms Choc x

I burn mine after shredding it as i know then the is no way of getting any information then

Mrs_B_12

Some councils will take paper, if your does why not just shred anything unsuitable like envelopes seperately?

All my shredding goes into my compost bin.

bigpaws23

If you know people with open fires, they can burn it as it is (it burns surprisingly well once it has been shredded) or make it into 'briquettes'.

hardpressed

Do you shred the whole letter or just the bit with your name and address. I just cut that bit off and put it in the compost bin, the rest go for re-cycling. With envelopes, could you cut the bits off that have glue on and re-cycle the rest?
If you can't put shreddings in the re-cycling box, soak them in water, they soon turn to mush then they can safely go in the ordinary rubbish.

MissG_2

hardpressed wrote: »

Do you shred the whole letter or just the bit with your name and address. I just cut that bit off

That is what i do along with any reference numbers and bar codes, like i said in a previous post i then burn them which i find is quite therapeutic to watch

torbrex

If your local re-cycling wont take shredded paper and you are unable to compost it, please just put it away with your houshold rubbish rather than burn it, I shudder to think that here on the Green and Ethical board some people are advocating starting fires and burning paper for no good reason.

bigpaws23

torbrex wrote: »

I shudder to think that here on the Green and Ethical board some people are advocating starting fires and burning paper for no good reason.

Hi Torbrex,
I was really interested in your comment - it made me stop and think. I burn shredded paper because I rely on open fires for heating the house; we have no other form of heating. If I make paper into briquettes for keeping our home warm, do you still think this is a 'bad' thing to do ethically?

I'm always aware that there is *so* much more i can do to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, so would welcome your views on this

Bigpaws x

tee_pee_2

i only shred stuff that can go in my recycle bag and envelopes I just put in the bin.

torbrex

bigpaws23 wrote: »

Hi Torbrex,
I burn shredded paper because I rely on open fires for heating the house; we have no other form of heating. If I make paper into briquettes for keeping our home warm, do you still think this is a 'bad' thing to do ethically?

Bigpaws x

I have no problem with the shredded paper going to make briquettes, I have a freind that does the same, that is a good use of an otherwise wasted resource, my objection would be for the shredded paper to be burned specifically or added to a fire just because the fire was there. This material when shredded properly becomes useful again as an additive in compost makers or even in some cases such as landfill straight into the gound.

Paper after all is basically made from trees and how many people would set light to a living tree on purpose.

TenerC_2

our local council (or just the jobs worth on the lorry) will NOT take our shredded paper as it blows out of the lorry!!

it`s a lorry with a cage setup, we put it in the sack first time, left it out, it was taken, next time left it out it wasn`t, so phoned up to complain, next time left it out again, wasn`t taken, this time we saw the lorry and asked why it wasn`t taken again and was told "cause that bloody stuff blows all over the road out of the lorry, so we don`t take it" phoned up to complain AGAIN "well if you put it in a cardboard box he`ll take it" so did that gave the box to the guy, "it needs to be flat!" it can`t it`s got shreded paper, woman told us.. "if the box isn`t flat i can`t take it, takes up to much room.

so i just left the box on the pavement, kids walking past from school that evening saw the box saw the paper...

end result the waste paper sack went in the bin, green recycle box, used for storage, and now ALL our rubbish goes in the bin

OH but forgot to say, a way to reuse it, when we`ve planted up big plant pots, is to use it as a packer, we had a pot that would have taken loads of compost but not needed, so filled it 1/4 with sredded, then mixed in another 1/4 paper-soil then topped up what the plant would need with soil, that way, by the time the plant roots have got to the btm of the pot, it should have rotted down.