Home Paper Shredders Give New Life to Junk Mail and Personal Papers
As far as we’re concerned, the home paper shredder is the brightest light in the darkness that fell with the advent of postal-delivered junk mail. 
If you are like us, your mail box fills up with unsolicited newsletters, flyers featuring local business openings and sales, envelopes stuffed with coupons that you will never use, mail order catalogs you never asked for, and more. What are we supposed to do with all this stuff?
To add to the junk mail disposal woes, we also have the burden of how to get rid of unneeded personal papers such as old bank statements and credit card bills that contain our detailed account information. How are we to protect ourselves from identity thieves who rummage through our trash?
The home paper shredder takes care of these nuisances and in the process gives us neat raw materials to put to other uses. Shredding also keeps spent paper out of our land fills and helps minimize the risk of identity theft.
Paper shredders are reasonably priced and for the most part quite durable, as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions about loading and avoiding over-heating. They are also compact, about the size of a small office trash can, and lightweight. Make yourself feel extra good about acquiring this handy appliance by shopping at yard sales and thrift stores. Just be sure to plug the paper shredder in and try it out before you take it home.
Shred those junk mail and personal paper nuisances! Then you can use the shreddings in these smart ways.
Make Handmade Paper
Just as snowflakes, no two pieces of handmade paper will ever look exactly alike. In themselves, they can be works of art when bits of leaves and grasses or a dusting of glitter are added. When you shred your own paper base, you’ll never run out of raw materials for making paper.
Create Packing Material
Shredded paper is ideal as a packing material for mailing and shipping items or for storing fragile treasures. When prepared properly, it can replace expensive and non-biodegradable Styrofoam peanuts. Fill pre-used, clean plastic or paper bags with shredded paper and staple them shut. Or, compress balls of shredded paper with your hands, wrap the balls with a whole sheet of junk mail paper and seal with tape.
Add to Compost
Every compost pile needs a source of carbon, and shredded paper added in moderation along with other carbon sources such as shredded leaves or straw makes for good chemistry. Just make sure you are not adding any coated or waxed paper, or papers printed with metallic inks.
Make Pets Happy
Shredded paper is not only absorbent, it is also insulating. Use it in the bottoms of bird cages, as cat litter, and as bedding for mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Still have too much shredded paper on hand? Call your local animal shelters and veterinary hospitals and ask if they’d like some. Chances are, they’ll be delighted.
For more ideas, you can search the net for “uses for shredded paper”.
Photo by iowa_spirit_walker at flickr.com
May 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
What great ideas! And if you ship items to someone using your home-made packing materials, they might spread the practice, too! This definitely beats paying money for peanuts and other packing supplies.
May 26th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Wow Sally’s Trove Today, I’m so impressed, but then, not surprised. You out did about a gazillion blogs, here. Very nice!!! I’m having fun clicking around, and I love the idea of uses for shredded paper. Way to go! I’m in awe…and your number 1 Fan!! Don’t be scared…=))