Any uses for shredded paper?

kscour

I was lucky :rolleyes: in that someone bought my kids a kit - even luckier in that it was a small kit - paper comes out about 3-4" square. We had alot of fun trying adding food colouring, glitter etc. I don't think the paper would be so much suitable for writing on as for using in crafts but then we may not have been very good at it!

http://gort.ucsd.edu/preseduc/papermak.htm

has got instructions on as well as instructions on how to make your own mold & deckle. I'm sure there's quite a few other sites out there as well.

Oh and the blender survived making pulp but took quite a while to clean.

Edinburghlass_2

We use shedded paper for our 3 guinea pigs and hamster, they quite like it

NixNoo

My hamster loved it (no glossy tho) - he's dead now It wasn't cos of the paper tho, he was old. Neighbour uses it for her gineau pigs.

se999

You can use it as a mulch, I've not tried it yet, but will when we get the shredder and the new garden!!

If you put "shredded paper as a mulch" into a google search, you get lots of articles and forums about using it.

shrewd_dude

I have never seen that telescope/ baloon pump machine before. How good is it ? Do the 'logs' burn slowly ? How does it work ? (excuse all the questions, I'm a bit excited).

I had a look at this site, http://www.logmaker.co.uk/ and the small photo there makes me think that the machine just wraps up the rubbish in newspaper.

At the moment all our newspapers are collected for recycling, junkmail is shredded and used for bedding for the chickens and I soak all cardboard packaging and then tear it up and throw it on the compost heap. I have a surplus of shredded paper and cardboard cartons and was hoping to turn them into logs. Do you think I'd be able to use the other log maker to do this without newspaper ?

*edit* Oops, this was supposed to be in reply to post #8 by ChocClare. I'm new to this.

Yoga_Girl

I put all my shreddings into my compost along with all my veg peelings and have no problem with them composting, as long as you make sure its mixed up with all the other stuff in the compost and isn't in one bit heap it should rot down fine. I only shred small amounts at a time and just add these when they're done, if I had large amounts I'd just turn the compost to ensure they were distributed more evenly.

beer2006

If you add the shreddings to your compost heap, mix them up with your grass mowings, it will balance them out better.

That logmaker looks interesting, could use one for a BBQ, anyone tried this? ChocClaire how long do they burn for?

katieowl_2

Coffeeandfags, if you don't have any small animals...how about offering it on FREECYCLE perhaps somebody round the corner would be glad of it!!! (DS's ratties love shredded paper!)

There always seems to be somebody on FC that can make use of stuff - otherwise.....is there a homeschoolers group that might make paper mache nearby (I'm sure proper schools would turn up noses (health and safety and all that!))

Failing that put it all in a nice secure plastic bag outside you house, with a sign that says something like, "Moving? Packing? Have pets? clean shredded paper - help yourself!"

Regards

Kate

halloweenqueen_2

Our recycling does not allow shredded paper, have now bought a compost bin and will be using that. £4 from councils recycling scheme, good value I thought.

LizD_2

Hi

I'd be dubious about using cross-cut shreddings for small animals, guineas in particular, as they can be prone to respiratory infections and the dust wouldn't do them a lot of good. Also the bleach used in the paper making and printing inks aren't too great.

Chickadee, if your GPs are anything like my pair, I bet they eat any paper they get their little paws on!