EnviroShred NW Blog - Portland Paper Shredding

EnviroShred NW offers both on-site and off-site paper shredding in the Portland area, and greater Northwest.

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2 Business New Year’s Resolutions to be Green in 2016

Looking for realistic New Year's resolutions you can easily achieve and positively impact your business with? Well, let's dive in to 2 sustainable ways!

1. Recycle the Right Way

Did you know lids on bottles aren’t recyclable on the curb? They’re a thicker plastic and should be removed before recycling your plastic bottles. If your place of work doesn’t have enough recycle bins or people aren’t following the recycling guidelines, see if you can improve your recycling program. Pay attention to signage, make new signage for co-workers to follow and don’t let laziness overpower your decisions. It all adds up in the end if you play your part now.

“You can have all the cooperation in the world between haulers and agencies, you can have all the infrastructure in the world, but without a public that’s enthusiastic about recycling and composting, where would you be?” says Bruce Walker, solid waste and recycling program manager for Portland’s Bureau of Planning & Sustainability. 1

It’s time to take the extra step in your daily schedule to recycle whenever and wherever you can, and we’re lucky to live in a place where this is pretty easy to do.

2. Secure Confidential Information to Keep Your Business Safe

You’ve heard it time and time again, but we can’t stress enough the importance to set rules for your business so that everyone keeps information safe at all times.

“Having a sound security plan in place to collect only what you need, keep it safe, and dispose of it securely can help you meet your legal obligations to protect that sensitive data,” the FTC mentions on their Data Security page.2

This means setting up rules for:

Properly disposing of hard drives when the time comes. Wiping your computer clean is not enough either. Take it to a professional who can securely destroy data and stay cost effective for your business.

Properly shredding documents containing business practices, memos, customer information, and anything in question of being private. If you haven’t set up on-site shredding services yet, now is the time. Having a process in play should be a new standard for your business in addition to your current file management system.

Let’s set the example for others in Portland and make a difference this year to impact the sustainable future of the NW and beyond.

Sources

Chris Clarke, http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/09/17/5-cities-are-recycling-superstars, Sept 17, 2014

Federal Trade Commission, https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security/data-security

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3 Winter Holiday Crafts to Make Using Shredded Paper

At EnviroShred NW, we are inspired by so many paper crafts we see that support re-use and paper recycling. That said, what better time to share our 3 favorite creative re-uses of shredded paper just in time for the holidays?

1. Snowflake Ornament

Did you know the craft technique of rolling paper strips into detailed art pieces and designs is called quilling? You can use a quilling needle to curl strips of paper into amazing things such as this snowflake ornament.

You’ll Need:

Already-shredded paper (or cut paper you need to re-use or recycle into 8 strips, about 3/8 inch wide and 4 ½ inches long)

A round toothpick (or for advanced artists, a quilling needle)

Clear-drying craft glue

Strong thread (try metallic for an extra festive look)

Here’s how to make this fancy snowflake paper ornament in 2 easy steps:

Fold each strip of quilling paper so that one of the halves is about 1/2 inch longer than the other, and curl the ends. Repeat with the remaining seven strips.

On a flat surface, fit pieces together with their points in the center. Using tiny dabs of glue, attach pieces together in pairs, and then join the four pairs. Let the glue dry, and attach your piece of thread to hang ornament.

Pat yourself on the back for mastering quilling so effortlessly while repurposing paper! Full tutorial found here.

2. Paper Snowman

You’ll Need:

Shredded paper, right from your electronic paper shredder or pre-cut paper (about 1-2 inches long and ½ inch wide)

1 sheet of colored paper (for the backdrop)

A pencil

Craft glue

A small paint brush – (optional for help gluing)

Craft googly eyes, and small black pom poms, or any other materials to decorate with such as black paper for a snowman hat and arms

How to make it in 3 Steps:

Use your pencil to draw 3 large circles stacked like a snowman on your paper

Add glue to each circle, one at a time, and then your shredded paper pieces to each circle before the glue dries. If your shreddings are small, stack and scrunch them as needed to fill up each circle and push down hard so they stay. (Shake off any excess paper)

Glue on your snowman accessories and outfit with any other paper and materials you have including the googly eyes, and you’re all done!

Tutorial found here.

3. Paper Christmas Tree

You’ll Need:

Approximately 50 paper strips – you can use any paper scraps, shredded paper or paper newspaper comics (make them about 1” wide and 3” long) 

Craft Glue or Glue Dots 

Pen or Pencil (for rolling paper strips on for the curl)

1 full piece of paper

How to make the paper tree in 3 Steps:

Roll your piece of paper (try using green of you have it around) into a cone shape and glue it into place.

Take your paper strips, and roll them around a pencil or pen to get a curl at the ends

Once your paper strips are curled, start at the bottom of the paper cone you made and add them as rows around the base. Keep stacking the rows of paper strips until they are gone and filled the entire tree.

More photos and tutorial from: Joyslife.com

For another paper shredded craft idea for office parties or at home, see our blog post here. We hope everyone has a great holiday!

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3 Simple Rules Your Employees Must Follow to Boost Security

There is often confusion on what information you can share out loud, via emails, via social media or in documents at the workplace. Saying a simple “Congrats on the pregnancy” on someone’s Facebook page may seem like a normal thing to do, but think twice! Even if you have internal Human Resources with your own rulebook, you can forget from time to time what is acceptable and not acceptable to do or say.

If you work in a business environment that’s more laid-back and may not have many rules, be sure to read through 3 basic rules your business should use to help keep information secure. Even the acronym is easy to remember – “CIA”!

1. Confidentiality - means that data or information is not made available or disclosed to unauthorized persons or processes.

Have someone of authority be the go-to person for controlling data destruction and shredding decisions. Do not make the decision on your own. When in doubt, check it out!

2. Integrity - means that data or information has not been altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner.

Did you throw away a USB with business information on it instead of checking with your boss first on how to safely destroy it? How about “shredding” a 6-month old report in your own recycle bin when you know you have ongoing shredding in a secure bin or console down the hall?

Make sure to always check with your boss to ensure you understand the protocols to follow and follow data-destruction rules, or else the exception to the rule you made may cost you.

3. Availability - means that data or information is accessible and useable upon demand only by an authorized person.

If you don’t have internal Human Resources, make sure employee’s personal files aren’t in a shared filing cabinet. Keep them locked with the highest person of authority in their office only.

Sources: 1. Rule definitions taken from UNC’s HIPAA Rulebook 2. Image from Flickr user nikcname under the CC License

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Go Green for Halloween

Pumpkin day is approaching and it’s time to make a decision: what are you dressing up as this year for Halloween? Do you want to look scary? Funny? Original? You might be surprised you can be all of these by going green!

Here are a couple fun ideas we found that are eco-friendly to make as your Halloween costume. One is definitely only adult-friendly and the second is suitable for kid-friendly fun with so many options.

The Shred Monster

How to be a Paper Shredded Monster in 3 steps

Shred about five reams of used paper and make sure to leave about an inch of paper intact at each end

Glue the intact end of the paper to your suit, leaving the paper-shredded end flared out.

Glue bigger sheets of shredded paper onto a helmet, then spray mount finely shredded paper to a mask. Pretty scary, huh?

Recycled Robot

How to become a Recycled Robot:

Find two cardboard boxes lying around and dryer vent tubing. (Or wrap long-sleeves with foil)

Cut a hole in the smaller box that will be a fit for your head.

Remove the box and cut out the front to around 2 inches from the sides

Take the bigger box and cut the back out of it. Also, cut armholes on the sides and make a groove in the top that fits appropriately around the neck.

Spray paint the boxes silver (or use foil) and draw or paste on fake buttons and gadgets. You can even put an old CD on there you have lying around!

Place the dryer vent tubing in the armholes and apply it with tape.

If you want to take it up a notch, there’s a great outer space version of this Robot costume here or a light-up version here.

Sources: 1. Image & tutorial from: http://inhabitat.com/greenhalloweencontest/the-papercut-monster-is-coming-for-you/

2. Robot image from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/73253931410519039/

3. Robot tutorial from: http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/50017.aspx#imgn_0

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The Importance of Security at a Business

Recently an attack lawsuit was filed against Sony Pictures from a group of its former employees. Personal information was leaked from 3,000 employees including social security numbers due to a serious hack on Sony PCs. (You can read the full article here).

As your partner in keeping your business risk-free of data leakage, we see this article as a reminder that your business is never too big or too small to be hacked. No matter what your business is, it’s important to protect confidential information. In the case of Sony Pictures, they had made a business decision to not invest in up to date security measures:

“…a September 2014 audit by PricewatershouseCoopers, which had warned that Sony's information security and monitoring practices fell below "prudent industry standards."

“… Sony "made a business decision to accept the risk of losses associated with being hacked”" 1

In today’s business environment, it’s important to protect your company against information fraud.

What can YOU do to protect your employees and business?

1.  Set rules for document & data destruction all employees must follow. 

How long do you allow people to keep documents on file? Do you have rules for archiving certain emails? Do you have an on-site security shred bin that is serviced regularly?

Enforce rules based on what is best for your company to thrive with limited risk of data being exposed. More helpful tips here.

2.  Have a plan of action in the case of a hack occurring:

Work with your IT team to implement policies, technologies and strategies for preventing attacks, and if it’s too late, figure out how to quickly detect a data breach.  

As mentioned in this CBS News Article by former director of the FBI, Shawn Henry notes “Organizations need to implement strategies, policies and technologies that allow them to detect these breaches when they occur, because then they can actually mitigate them.” 2

Taking the time to protect your employees and act fast on keeping data you must keep secure while properly destroying no-longer-needed data and documents can save your business and your company reputation.

Sources: 1. http://www.databreachtoday.com/sony-agrees-to-settle-cyber-attack-lawsuit-a-8520 2. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hacking-after-sony-what-companies-need-to-know/

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Summer DIY - Paper Reuse

Looking for a summer craft project to do with the kids or even use at your next office party? If you have newspaper, magazines or colored paper lying around, put them to great use by repurposing them for decor.

As you’ve seen on our latest blogs, some important paperwork should be kept and filed away while some papers should be shredded for security. For anything in-between, see if you’re up for the challenge of using it for one of these two summer craft tutorials.

1 - Large Paper Flowers with Shredded Paper Centers

This large flower tutorial came straight from a wedding blog. A couple actually used a large paper flower in their photos, making it a very creative and unique shoot. Full instructions here.

2 - Paper Garland Paper party decorations like garlands or paper stars are great ways to put your office paper to good use. Make them at your next office birthday party or holiday party.

All you need is paper, scissors, string and a stapler for this garland:

Sources: 1. Photo/tutorial from: http://100layercake.com  2. Photo/tutorial from: http://wonderfuldiy.com/wonderful-diy-paper-decoration-for-party/ 

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Why You Should Destroy Your Hard Drives

At an office, often times what we save on our computer is also printed out and filed away. We tend to focus on shredding our paperwork from time to time and simply “erase” our files from our computers. But does erasing files permanently delete data?

The important answer is NO.

When you no longer need a computer or have reason to securely destroy the data, this is when hard drive destruction comes in handy.

Let’s take a look into why destroying hard drives is so vital to your business.

1. It renders the drives storage platters un-spinnable, so no data can be retrieved.  Erasing data from your computer seems legitimate, but can most often still be retrieved and is still stored. From client emails to social security numbers, there are pieces of data you do not want to risk being found. Choose a professional NAID AAA Certified company that follows industry standards for the highest level of security. 

2. It’s easy and safe.  There are plenty of “ways” people claim to destroy hard drives online, but these ways are dangerous and wasteful. The best way to securely destroy the data is through a professional shredding machine, and it will save you time and money in the end.

3. It brings you peace of mind.  If you were to simply throw away your old computer or try to destroy the hard drive yourself, it is not effective and you are risking having retrievable data; some of which may be other co-workers personal data. Nobody wants that possibility when ridding of hard drives.

Still have questions? Make sure to evaluate your on-site and off-site hard drive destruction options from us here at EnviroShred NW, Inc. and contact us for a free quote. We want to help you gain peace of mind by securely shredding pieces of data!

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What Your Employees Can Do To Protect Your Business

 “Without proper safeguards, information ends up in a dumpster and available to anybody.” 

As you may have read on our last blog, a study found top executives from 300 companies ranked company security as one of the top five issues facing business. This still holds true today. This study sparked the conversation about how to implement a plan and guidelines (from NAID) to employees to keep documents secure and securely shredded.

Sometimes it’s easy to just crumple up a piece of paper you don’t need and throw it in your recycle bin. But, if your employees are doing so without considering the harm on business security, they should take the following into consideration: 

1. On a daily basis, have your coworkers ask themselves:

Is this information useful to competition?

Does this information contain current plans or activities?

Does this information contain personal client information that shouldn’t be leaked?

Make sure instead of just recycling you are securely shredding these types of documents.

2. Decide who is in charge of destroying certain information

Make sure base level employees are not in charge of handling document destruction of papers such as payroll information and any legal information. It will give your business higher security to use upper management in these destructions. 

Ask yourself as a manager - “is this something I should allow all employees to have possession of at their desks?”

Source: Kevin Keanes Kelly Image ”A Crumpled Paper Ball” courtesy of Turinboy

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How to Protect your Business’ Security with a Retention Policy

“A survey from the executives of 300 companies ranked the security of company records as one of the top five critical issues facing business.”

NAID, the National Association for information Destruction Inc. found that not having some sort of policy for your records shows suspicion to clients. It can also negatively impact your business in the case of an audit. Let’s dive into the NAID sub committee’s business points to help keep your information secure at your place of work.

1. Every business has information that needs to stay secure and requires eventual destruction.

Whether you are hiding memos from competitors, keeping sales information private or filing away old employee documents, anyone involved in your business deserves their privacy. In fact, it’s the employee and customer’s legal right.

2. Stored records should be destroyed on schedule.

Your business should make a retention schedule based on the value documents bring to the business while meeting legal requirements.

Set guidelines for which types of documents need ongoing shredding and which need to be kept for legal periods of time. See the IRS help page on recordkeeping for more advice here.

And of course, Secure shredding is the best way to destroy the confidential documents you no longer need at your business to help risk management.

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The Dangers of Identity Theft

Your taxes may be done but don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. Make sure to protect yourself from tax identity fraud now and in the future.  

You may think that tax identity theft couldn’t happen to you because you keep your documents safe. However, tax identity theft is a serious issue and the bad guys are resourceful. Thieves will do anything from digging through your garbage to pretending to a part of a legitimate company, government agency, medical office or bank to try and get your personal information.

Being proactive is the best protection. Follow these easy steps to help prevent tax identify theft from happening to you:

1) Take the time to dig up tax documents from three or more years ago and shred them now. (The typical audit period the IRS uses is three years from when you file your return). 

2) Copies of your actual tax returns and other documents that you do need to keep should be safely stored in a secure location. 

3) Regularly shred any confidential documents or mail you don’t need throughout the year.

Think you may have been a victim of tax-related identity theft? Know the signs:

1) Receiving an email, text or social media message from what seems to be the IRS. If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead, forward it to [email protected]. The IRS does not start contact with a taxpayer by these methods.

2) Receiving notice from the IRS stating one of the following:           a. An employer you don’t know paid you.           b. More than one tax return was filed using your SSN.

Read more about what to do next if one of these signs happens to you.  

Photo from Macwagen

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Use Shredded Paper as Mulch in this Year’s Garden!

Did you know that using black and white newspapers as mulch can be a cost-effective option? As newspaper decomposes in your garden it becomes organic matter, making an environmentally friendly way to control the soil temperature, water and growth of pesky weeds! Let’s look at two specific ways newspaper can be used in your garden.

Improve Your Strawberries: Believe it or not, the shape and color of strawberries can be improved by using newspaper mulch before growth, according to researchers at West Virginia University Extension Service. Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com

Image courtesy of odanata98

Here’s how to use the newspaper around your strawberries: 1. Plant the strawberries and then water the garden thoroughly. 2. Layer strips of newspaper about 3 inches away from the stem of each plant. Overlap them until they layer about 12 sheets thick, and water the newspaper every 3rd layer to keep entire area moist. 3. At the end of the growing season, remove the newspaper to allow the plants to adjust to the cooler temperatures.   4. Prior to the first predicted frost put down new newspaper just as you did before, except this time coving the entire plant.  Also add a few inches of other organic materials such as grass clippings to protect the plants from freezing and thawing throughout the winter.   5. Come spring rake the mulch and then repeat the papering process for the new growing season.

Prevent Weeds: Did you know newspaper shreddings suppress weed growth and bacterial infections when used as mulch?

Photo courtesy of Dennis Hill

Here’s how to use newspaper to tackle tedious weeds: 1. Make sure your plants are at least 5 inches tall. Shred the newspaper into thin strips (about 1 inch). 2. Remove all weeds currently growing. 3. Add any necessary fertilizer and mix it into the soil. 4. Spread the paper shreddings about 2 inches away from each plant, overlapping them until you have layers of paper measuring about 2 inches thick. 5. For an extra touch, sprinkle a layer of grass on top of the paper mulch to add nitrogen back into the soil.

Make use of your old newspapers this spring and let EnviroShred NW help you take care of shredding the rest your unwanted documents that can’t be used for mulch.

Gardening tips from: homeguides.sfgate.com

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Spring into Spring Cleaning.

You’ve heard it time and time again – “spring cleaning”. But what does it really mean for your business? Let’s take a look at the types of spring-cleaning your business should take on and how it can benefit your team and the environment!

Evaluate the Workspace

Doing a simple “audit” of your workspace can help make clear what needs to be changed and what needs to stay. For example, did anyone get lazy about filing and as a result there’s a bunch of clutter and risk of confidential files being seen by anyone? Take the short amount of time to evaluate your office now to impact the efficiency for months to come!

Shred Your Documents!

Shredding = more work productivity and fraud protection. Your entire office can benefit from taking the time to get rid of boxes of old paperwork and confidential forms in which have also been uploaded as computer files. What better time to do a spring cleaning, one-time shredding purge?

This creates a more secure environment since there won’t be risks of confidential information getting lost or misplaced outside of the office. It also creates a cleaner workspace as you can empty old files from the past year in which are no longer needed, freeing up those file cabinets and emptying out those stacked boxes. Organization and safety: Check!

You can take it one step further by setting up ongoing shredding for documents on-site.

Photo credit: Joel Penner

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It’s tax time. Here’s what you need to know.

Tax season officially kicked off on January 20, which means you can now start filing for your 2014 tax return.  But some of you may also be wondering what you should do with that drawer full of OLD tax documents. The good news is that the IRS can only start an audit on non-fraudulant tax returns that are three years old and newer. This means you don’t need to keep any supporting documents that are older than three years. The bad news, these documents can potentially contain information that criminals can use to steal your identity so it’s important to destroy these old documents securely.

Let us help you by safely and securely destroying those tax documents. We offer convenient mobile services and are AAA Certified so you can trust that your business is protected.

While destroying old tax documents will significantly decrease the clutter in your life, do remember to keep copies of your actual tax returns in a secure location.

Are you wondering about how long you should keep other sensitive documents?  Check out these recommended timelines below:

Paycheck Stubs: If you are planning to apply for a loan, you should keep at least the previous 3 months of paycheck stubs. However, for most purposes, you would only need your latest stub.

ATM Receipts: Can be securely disposed once you have compared them with your bank statement.

Credit Card Statements: A year is recommended to cover possible disputes or returns.

Warranties: Keep for as long as you own the item or the warranty expires.

Click Here to find out more about how long you should hold on to other common personal documents. 

Photo by:  www.seniorliving.org

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Warm up this Winter – Win a FREE Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine & St. Johns Coffee Roasters Beans from EnviroShred NW!

Winter is official here on December 21, and with it comes long nights and cold, wet days. We know a hot coffee is just what you need to get through the wintery workdays, which is why we’re sending one lucky office a Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine and St. Johns Coffee Roasters Beans!

Protecting your company’s confidential information with EnviroShred NW will keep you feeling warm and comforted throughout the winter. Why waste time worrying about sensitive documents ending up in the wrong hands? Let us sweep in and take care of all that paperwork.

Enter to win the ultimate coffee package from EnviroShred NW and be the hero of your office!

How to enter: First, like us on Facebook to be eligible. Then, post your office’s address on our Facebook announcement and we’ll pop your prize in the mail to one lucky office – Yes, it’s that easy!

When a winner is chosen on December 19 (12/19/14), we’ll notify the lucky office through a comment at the end of the post. The espresso machine will be sent to the address provided by EOD Tuesday, December 23, unless otherwise noted by the winner.

Not Endorsed By Facebook: By participating in this contest, you acknowledge that this contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook and release Facebook from any and all liability arising from or related to this contest.

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Burst Into Fall – Win a FREE Cuisinart Popcorn Popper & Gourmet Amish Country Popcorn From EnviroShred NW!

Fall is around the corner and that means corn mazes, candy corn and popcorn! We know you’re longing for pumpkin lattes and sweaters, so we’re getting in the fall mood and want to make work a little more cozy by sending one lucky office a festive, fall treat. 

Protecting your company’s confidential information with EnviroShred NW will keep you feeling warm and comforted throughout the cold months ahead. Why waste time worrying about sensitive documents ending up in the wrong hands? Let us sweep in and take care of all that paperwork.  Enter to win the ultimate fall snack from EnviroShred NW and be the snack master of your office! How to enter: First, like us on Facebook to be eligible. Then, post your office’s address on our Facebook announcement and we’ll pop your prize in the mail to one lucky office – Yes, it’s that easy!  When a winner is chosen on Sept 26th (9/26/14), we’ll notify the lucky office through a comment at the end of the post. The popcorn will be sent to the address provided by EOD Wednesday, Oct 1st unless otherwise noted by the winner.

Not Endorsed By Facebook: : By participating in this contest, you acknowledge that this contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook and release Facebook from any and all liability arising from or related to this contest.

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Don't Toss What You Shred, Reuse Instead!

No matter how many times we unsubscribe from mailing lists and sign up for paperless billing, it seems the bills and junk mail keep coming. Furthermore, they always seem to be followed by unwanted sales flyers and newspapers you never signed up for. So, you pile it all up and every month you sit and shred all that unwanted paper along with your other sensitive documents. Instead of bagging the shredded paper up and throwing it out, repurpose it around your house in some of these easy and creative ways!

Composting: Take your shredded paper and mix it in with your compost so it breaks down quickly. It works especially well when mixed in with grass clippings. Avoid composting glossy paper or cellophane which do not decompose as easily, or in some cases, not at all.

Want to skip putting shreddings on the compost? Simply till or dig them into your garden in the fall around manure time.

Pet Bedding: Don’t waste money on messy bags of wood shavings! Use the shredded paper you already have in your home. Shredded paper makes perfect bedding for rodents like hamsters and rabbits. It’s also the perfect material to line your cat’s litter box because it makes your kitty litter last longer while still doing the same great job. When it’s time to replace the soiled shreddings, just add them to your compost to be reused in your garden.

Don’t have a pet? Donate your shredded paper to a local shelter - they are usually in need of bedding. Just be sure to call and check that they can accept it before bringing it in.

Photo: Waysidewaifs.org

Packing Materials: Shredded paper is the perfect packing material for your fine china or on moving day. Since dumping buckets of shredded paper into a box can get a little messy, create cushiony balloons by filling old grocery bags with the paper and packing them around the contents of the box.

Mulch: Replace that expensive mulch you have been buying with the shredded paper you have in your home. Simply spread the shreddings in a medium-thick layer around your plants and wet them down with a hose. Wetting the paper will bind it together and the resulting paper-mache -like result will stop weeds from breaking through while helping conserve moisture. To make the area more visually appealing, put a thin layer of dirt down to cover the shreddings.  

Photo: The Prudent Gardner

Confetti: Everyone loves throwing a little confetti at birthdays or New Years, but spending money on little shapes made of non-biodegradable materials just seems senseless considering they will be vacuumed up and thrown away. Repurpose your shredded paper by throwing it at any celebration. Then, vacuum it up and toss it on your compost pile. For best results, make sure to use a Confetti-cut shredder also known as a Cross-cut shredder.

Tip: Save your leftover wrapping paper from the Holidays so you can shred it to make colorful confetti on New Years.

Fire Starter: Forget about buying kindling, everything you need to start a fire can be found right in your house. Start with something flammable that can be filled, like an old egg carton, a cardboard cereal box, a paper towel or even a toilet roll. Fill your chosen container with as much shredded paper as it will hold. Place your new fire starter at the middle bottom of the fire and light the shredded paper inside.  

Photo: Curious.com

Paper Mache: Since creating anything with paper mache requires strips of paper, it’s the perfect way to use your excess shredded paper. To create the glue, mix equal parts flour and water in a bowl with a hand mixer to ensure you won’t have any lumps. The thickness of the paste is a personal preference, but the consistency of pancake batter is usually a happy medium. Wet the shredded paper fully with the paste and mold it around whatever form you have chosen. Make sure you let the layer dry fully before adding another until you have reached your desired thickness. Let the whole thing dry and you’re done!  

Drawer/Luggage Freshener: Instead of spending $15 on that nicely packaged potpourri, take some lightweight breathable cloth, or even a dyed coffee filter, and make it into your own scented freshener. Simply take some shredded paper and spray it with your favorite perfume or scented mist. Then, put that paper into your chosen holder and tie off the top. The paper will absorb the smell and continue to keep your drawer or luggage smelling great for a long time. And best of all, when it loses its smell or you get tired of the fragrance you don’t have to feel guilty recycling it and making a new one!  

Trash Bag Absorbent: Everyone hates picking up a trash bag to find pools of smelly liquid in the bottom just ready to drip all over the floor and your shoes. Avoid this by putting down a layer of shredded paper in the bottom of the trash bag when you change the trash. Since paper is very absorbent, the shreddings will not only absorb the liquid but hold in some of the smell too.  

Other Crafts: There are many other uses for shredded paper that are meant for fun rather than function. Use shredded paper to line an Easter basket, make your own paper and more! Check out our previous post with great shredded paper summer crafts for all ages.

Photo: DailyPea.com

For all of your other secure document and large quantity shredding needs, contact EnviroShred NW today!

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5 Shredded Paper Crafts To Do With Your Kids This Summer

School’s out for the summer and the kids have 3 months of nothing but free time. That means summer camps, park visits and of course - crafts! Creating something handmade is great but being able to re-use materials you have around the house is even better! Here are five great ways to entertain your children, create something crafty and use up all of that old shredded paper you are always trying to find a home for!  

1) Homemade Decorative Paper - It might seem odd to use old paper to make new paper but homemade paper is not only easy and fun for everyone, it can be used for everything from journals to greeting cards. This versatile craft is easy to personalize making it ideal for all ages.

Follow this link for easy instructions from One Good Thing for making your own homemade paper. Remember you can use different color paper, food coloring, dried flowers, glitter and more for a unique look every time!

2) Shredded Paper Seed Starters - This craft is a perfect craft that the kids will enjoy all summer! Occupy them for an afternoon while making the seed starters out of all that old shredded paper, then after they have dried, take them outside and plant them. Give them the responsibility of watering them, and finally they grow! It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

For step-by-step directions to create your own seed starters check out these helpful instructions from Dabbles & Babbles   

3) Shredded Paper Snowman -  It might be the beginning of summer but what better way to get a jump-start on your holiday decorations than having the kids help you? This project requires only a few materials - the most important of which is white shredded paper.

For complete instructions to create your own shredded paper Frosty the Snowman enjoy this blog post from Housing a Forest.

4) Shredded Paper Bowl - This project is extremely versatile and easy for everyone. Whether you want to make a thinner bowl to be used as a birds nest decoration, or a thicker bowl for holding fruit, the instructions are the same and very adaptable!

You can find complete instructions on how to make your own shredded paper bowls from Woman’s Day.

5) Stuffed Construction Paper Animals - Shredded paper makes very effective material for stuffing mailing boxes so why not use it to fill something a little cuter? Have your children choose their favorite animal and draw it using whatever craft and drawing material they prefer. Staple the front and back, remembering to leave an opening to fill the inside with shredded paper. Close the opening with staples and you’re done.

Enjoy this cute construction paper owl example from A Day In The Life Of This Art Teacher and make your own animal!

Let EnviroShred NW help you spend more time crafting with your kids this summer and less time shredding. Call us or visit us online today!