Using Shredded Paper

Stephanie and her family live in the woods of West Virginia where they are attempting to live a simple life while getting out of debt. You can find her blogging at Stop the Ride! and Make it from Scratch.

Shredded Paper

A couple of summer’s ago I found a paper shredder at a yard sale. I paid $3 for it. I have certainly gotten my money’s worth of use from it. Every piece of junk mail (nonslick), every envelope, all the kids scrap paper, and discarded coloring pages have met the shredder. Our office trash that once was overflowing by trash day, now has very little in it.

Shredding papers is helpful in protecting us from identity theft, but shredded paper can be helpful even beyond that. There are a lot of useful ways to use all those shreds of paper that accumulate in the shredder basket.

Here are some ways that we use our shredded paper:

1) In the compost.

Paper mixed in with other compostable items will break down to make wonderful soil for your gardening needs. There are so many things you can compost. Want some ideas of things you can compost? How about a list of 163 things! You may be surprised at some of the things listed there.

2) As mulch.

While we are talking gardening, shredded paper will also make a mulch. Simply place it around your plants, and then wet it a bit. The shreds will stick together to create a mulch.

3) For the animals.

We have chickens, and the vast majority of our shredded paper ends up in their nest boxes. It is a perfect (and free) alternative to straw. We’ve also used it in rabbit nest boxes. I imagine it would make a nesting material for other animals like guinea pigs.

4) Packing material.

Shredded paper makes an excellent packing material in shipping boxes. It can be a little messy though. To cut down on the mess simply place the shredded paper into a plastic shopping bag, and tie the top closed. Double your recycling pleasure.

Shredding paper makes sense. It helps protect you from identity theft, and can be a useful product in itself. Happy shredding.

Related posts:

1. Recycling Paper
2. Mixed Paper Recycling Guidelines
3. Recycled Paper: Closing the Recycling Loop
4. An Easy Way to Cut Down Your Paper Towel Usage
5. Wall Art out of Postcards and Scrapbook Paper

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