Uses for shredded paper?

15 years ago

Does anyone have a good use for the accummulated paper from using a shredder? Like a lot of people, I shred all my items with identifiable info once I am done with them. I hate just throwing out all this shredded paper into the garbage.

I do not have a mulch pile (yard is too small...), so, what is a good use in the garden for it?

Due to it's shredded aspect, I do not know that it would be good as a weed blocker.

I am open to suggestions and listening to your own experiences.

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Comments (9)

annafl
15 years ago
Saintpfla, I create lots of shredded paper from junk mail, receipts, and used/unwanted paper around the house. Usually I put it in my compost tumbler with my kitchen scraps to compost. A tumbler is easy to make out of an old garbage can and can make a small amount of compost several times a year. Otherwise, you can just use it under mulch in your garden. There is some nutritive value in paper, and it retains moisture.

Anna
msmarion
15 years ago
What Anna said! I mix it to my compost bin.
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Hello, We have a couple flower beds and shrubs in front of our house, nothing fancy (variegated weigela, burning bush, hydrangeas, geraniums, bulbs, shasta daisies). We shred all our junk mail, and now have more shredded paper than we can use for packing material! I'm intrigued by the idea of using it as mulch, since we probably need more mulch in the flower beds anyway. I have no idea if the inks in the junk mail are soy-based or not, and no means or inclination to try to chase down that information. However, we don't have any food plants in the garden and don't anticipate adding any. I read the 2005 post on another thread about filling a water bucket with shredded paper and laying down the mulch, and that sounds like the method we'd be most likely to use. Would our shredded junk mail make acceptable mulch for our nonfood garden? Or would something in the various junk mail hurt our plants? What do you think? I appreciate any advice you can offer. I'm interested in all this stuff but pretty clueless! :) Thank you in advance!
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SaintPFLA
Original Author
15 years ago
Maybe, I'll try the compost bin and get it started this weekend.

How big does it have to be? What do you put in it? If you use a bin for composting, I'm assuming you should have a lid?

Sorry for the 'compost 101' questions...would be grateful for your knowledge on this.
msmarion
15 years ago
It's much too late for me to try and explain it but GW does have a Compost forum with lots of smarter than me people.

One of my customers brought me 4 plastic pallets that I used huge tiewraps to fasten it together. Easy to disassemble when we move. You could use rabbit fencing to form a 3 or 4 foot bin. My friends up north have several in their garden as well as a large one.
scottrell
15 years ago
Lasagna bed!
trini1trini
15 years ago
I started taking the shredded paper from my office to help 'save the environment'. Little did I know I would end up with more paper than the law allows. :) I put it under mulch like Anna said. When I get lazy though, I just dig a hole and bury it.
annafl
15 years ago
You can use a large garbage can and drill one inch holes all over, especially at the bottom. Yes, you need a lid that secures down very tightly because you'll need to roll the can around every few days. There are many models you can buy that are more convenient, but pricey, or like Marion suggested, you can have a bin made out of pallets, wire, etc. Spend a little time at the soil, compost and mulch forum (they also have an FAQ), and you'll become an expert in no time. It's fun to compost. Makes you feel good, and it's great for your plants.

Anna
SaintPFLA
Original Author
15 years ago
Cool! Thanks everyone...I'll check out the compost forum...did not even know there was one...so, that's a big help. :)
mboston_gw
15 years ago
Its not a gardening use but our SPCA uses it for the kitties. They are always happy to get it.

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Uses for shredded paper?

Comments (9)

annafl

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Uses for shredded paper?

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annafl

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