Comments on: Reader question: How to hide a shredder?

By: Bill in Detroit

Bill in Detroit — Mon, 03 May 2010 05:35:42 +0000

Caitlin … I eat my waste paper.

I recycle almost everything through my compost pile … sensitive or not. I don’t have to worry about small pieces of plastic in it … I’m going to screen it anyway and by composting it first, I’m certain that ONLY the non-compost-able bits escape. During the winter, I save the shredded bits to mix with fresh grass clippings, etc., through the summer.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:08:10 +0000

Doesn’t anyone here recycle? I mean, how many documents are you really getting that are sensitive in nature?

ANYTHING that has your name and address on it can be used in identity theft.

By: Maya

Maya — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:09:26 +0000

Mine’s in my dining room, where I use it. Oh well! It doesn’t bother me. It’s not bad looking and much more attractive than clutter!

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:04:56 +0000

I don’t have a shredder. I work in an office where we produce large engineering drawings and other commercially sensitive documents. In the past I’ve taken a bag full of stuff to shred to work, then used the big, powerful industrial shredder to reduce it to dust.

By: unclutterme (U-C-ME!)

unclutterme (U-C-ME!) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:08:08 +0000

This is a nice shredder cabinet – somewhat affordable.
http://www.brylanehome.com/hom.....ally.shtml

By: drew

drew — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:53:24 +0000

How about taking some big sheets of plastic that are perforated in grids, weaving colorful yarn through them and then fastening together to make a cover?

Works great for kleenex boxes!

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:51:52 +0000

Would this work?

http://www.homedecorators.com/.....8;aid=nxtg

By: Margi

Margi — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:58:24 +0000

Kayla…and everybody else…log on to freecycle.com in you local area and give away anything you don’t want. I even gave away a bag of shredded paper to a local artist who listed on freecycle. I keep my shredder at the front door right under the mail slot. The junk doesn’t even get further into the house. Be careful though, when you go on a shredding binge. I did shred a check just because I was “on a roll.” Happy shredding

By: DMC

DMC — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:30:49 +0000

@Kayla and anyone else looking for a good shredder deal. Check out this Staples 15-sheet cross-cut model…

http://www.staples.com/webapp/.....8:CL141980

It may be larger than you’re considering, @Kayla, but I’ve had this one for a year, and it’s a really good deal at $80 thru April 5.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:00:09 +0000

Perhaps you or a crafty friend could sew a "shredder cozy" (see these sewing machine cozies here for inspiration!

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:31:32 +0000

I think it should be put in one of those tissue box cozies that are in japanese craft magazines. It’s like an inverse tissue box.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:30:19 +0000

@Arjun:

I diligently recycle, but I shred anything that has identifying information BEFORE tossing it in the recycling bin.

Thanks for the ideas! I’ve been trying to come up with something safe and easy to use, as I end up with a cluttered kitchen counter because I am waiting for a good time to bring out the shredder and plug it in. The problem is that the “good time” comes about once every few weeks. My dream has been to have the shredding happen right as I step in the door with the mail.

I love the idea of a shredder in the garage…if not for the fact we don’t enter the house through the garage. I haven’t found a laundry hamper that appeals to me yet, but I am holding out hope. Perhaps I’ll use the drawer idea…

Thanks again to everyone for responding to my question!

By: Arjun Muralidharan

Arjun Muralidharan — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:26:34 +0000

Doesn’t anyone here recycle? I mean, how many documents are you really getting that are sensitive in nature?

My bank recently introduced electronic documents, which allows me to access my bank statements online instead of mailing them to me.

If a statement is in the hands of the mailman, it’s equally unsafe to keeping it in a recycling pile to take for recycling.

In Switzerland, you may dispose garbage only in designated garbage bags, which cost a hell of a lot, so people don’t dare to throw paper away – they recycle.

By: Randi

Randi — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:23:36 +0000

I had an electrical outlet put in my front hall closet. The mail comes right in and anything i don’t need gets shredded right away.

By: Monty

Monty — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:41:26 +0000

If you are in the DIY mood, and you’ve got the ability to drill into the underside of your kitchen counter, maybe try the “Hand Crank Paper Shredder”:
http://www.instructables.com/i.....-Shredder/
[Step #17 has a YouTube video of the finished thing in action...]

No electricity and no cord clutter!