Shredded paper recycling

[Sue]

Southwark's recycling guidance says to put shredded paper in the blue bin in a paper envelope or "small box".

I've got far too much of it for that  (confidential stuff going back decades) - thanks to the EDF member who kindly gave me a shredder! It would be a "massive box". I have barely started  the shredding, and I've already got an extremely large bagful. 

 I've read online that you can put it into  large clear plastic bags in the bin for paper,  provided you  clearly label it "shredded paper" and it is obvious what it is.

Does anybody know if Southwark would accept it like that?

Alternatively, can anyone make use of it for animal bedding or packaging material or adding to  compost?

[Kipper_1972]

They recently spoke about shredded paper when I was on a tour at Veolia's recycling centre. It's like confetti when it arrives and can't be recycled however it burns nicely at the incinerator and they get energy from it.... (ie. via the rubbish bin)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

You could be creative:

Homemade seed paper by Nancy Birtwhistle

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1154726356338721

[Sally Eva]

It's wood so you can compost it. Probably best to use it like grass cuttings sprinkled into other stuff to let in air and water.

[Sue]

4 hours ago, Peckhamgatecrasher said:

You could be creative:

Homemade seed paper by Nancy Birtwhistle

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1154726356338721

That's very very clever!

7 hours ago, Kipper_1972 said:

They recently spoke about shredded paper when I was on a tour at Veolia's recycling centre. It's like confetti when it arrives and can't be recycled however it burns nicely at the incinerator and they get energy from it.... (ie. via the rubbish bin)

Ah, ok. So I just put it in the green bin?

Probably better in a black bin bag so it doesn't blow all over the street/recycling centre, but then what happens when they burn it in the black bag?

And how do they "get energy from it" when it burns? Is it turned into electricity or something?

I went on a tour of the recycling centre years ago, but I don't remember them talking about that!

1 hour ago, Sally Eva said:

It's wood so you can compost it. Probably best to use it like grass cuttings sprinkled into other stuff to let in air and water.

Thanks, I have far too much, it would take years!

I do have two "daleks" on my allotment but I would need to store the shredded paper somewhere before using it, and I really want it out of the house. It's taking up more room than the boxes of folders did before 🤣

Edited Thursday at 06:54 by Sue

[Kipper_1972]

3 hours ago, Sue said:

Ah, ok. So I just put it in the green bin?

Probably better in a black bin bag so it doesn't blow all over the street/recycling centre, but then what happens when they burn it in the black bag?

And how do they "get energy from it" when it burns? Is it turned into electricity or something?

I went on a tour of the recycling centre years ago, but I don't remember them talking about that!

yes the green, when rubbish arrives at veolia it gets squashed and sort of composted for 12 days and then goes to SELCHP (the incinerator)

https://selchp.com/our-facility/

[Sue]

7 hours ago, Kipper_1972 said:

yes the green, when rubbish arrives at veolia it gets squashed and sort of composted for 12 days and then goes to SELCHP (the incinerator)

https://selchp.com/our-facility/

Thanks very much, that's really interesting.

I feel better about the shredded paper not being recycled now!

And even better that I can get it out of the house and into the green bin!

I will save a bit for future composting though  (and homemade seed paper, thanks Peckhamgatecrasher) x

[Pugwash]

When the charity I was involved with had to go into voluntary liquidation during Covid as majority of our funding ceased, We did not have sufficient income to cover the £50.000 pa rent, we had to get rid of 30 years plus of confidential files. We went through a confidential shredding company who took away a hundred plus sacks for shredding. They supplied the sacks and when we could not store anymore, they came and collected. 

[Sue]

1 minute ago, Pugwash said:

When the charity I was involved with had to go into voluntary liquidation during Covid as majority of our funding ceased, We did not have sufficient income to cover the £50.000 pa rent, we had to get rid of 30 years plus of confidential files. We went through a confidential shredding company who took away a hundred plus sacks for shredding. They supplied the sacks and when we could not store anymore, they came and collected. 

Yes, that's a great idea, but the companies online seem to be very cagey about costs, which implies it would be more than I would be willing to pay.

And If it was a cheap "collect and shred" service, being cynical, I would assume that actually the shredding probably wasn't going to happen 🤣

[Pugwash]

No it was expensive and various recommendations were received from other organisations and also social services who had used  in past.