# Cheap & easy alternative to shredding important papers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143 "2013-10-13T15:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/62 "2015-03-25T01:56:27Z")
I once found a five-dollar bill, in the gutter, that someone had used as toilet paper. Five dollars…with poop on it… Just not tempted somehow. So, yeah, poop contaminated papers might be relatively safe from abuse. The poor NSA guys just aren’t paid well enough to do that! ---
**Author:** ![Varija](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/94ad74/32.png) [@Varija](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Varija)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/63 "2017-03-18T05:02:32Z")
I see this is an old thread. I was looking for something else but for anyone who is facing this issue water does work you just have to soak it 3 days and stir with something sharp. In the case of 200 pounds of paper you will likely need to do it in batches but you can reuse the water by simply straining out the paper pulp. Its actually how paper is recycled. No bleach is needed in this operation. I use mine to make paper briquettes for my fireplace. After soaking 3 days just take balls of it in your hands and squash the water out then place in the sun to dry. Alternately for larger bricks take two 5 gallon plastic buckets, put lots of small holes in one using your favorite method (drill and a 1/4 inch bit works nice but there are plenty of ways including just stabbing repeatedly with a knife) be sure to put holes in the bottom as well as the sides but stay a couple inches under the reinforcement bands at the top, place large amounts of wet paper slurry in the bucket with holes - outside or over the tub - and place the second bucket in the top. Place the whole thing on something to elevate it off the ground unless you are on pavement. Now just press on the top bucket to force the water out of the holes. Once the water stops flowing freely tip the now compacted mess gently out and cut in quarters or it will take a month to dry completely (maybe more). You can actually use any method that comes to mind to press the water out and compact the slurry - let your imagination run wild and enjoy the free fire bricks or sell them for 50 cents on craigslist as biobricks 🙂 Option 2: buy earthworms - they love paper. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/64 "2017-03-18T18:30:51Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > What are the odds that if you put them in a giant trash sack and throw them in the regular garbage a would be criminal is going to find them and use them? > If you were throwing out papers on a regular basis, I’d get the concern. But a one time deal? Nah. I would agree with this. I would probably soak them down in a garbage can first. It will all go to the landfill and be covered up with tons of garbage for archeologists of the future to find. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/65 "2017-03-18T21:37:59Z")
When I discard an old credit card, I just cut it in half separating the first 12 digits from the last 4, and throw the two parts in different wast baskets that will be emptied at different times. I think the purpose of shredding documents is so there is no scrap large enough to contain any words that will imply any informaton. When my sister executed her aunt’s estate, she just threw the old cancelled checks away. Somebody found them and cashed them. Banks, apparently, negligently clear anything that looks remotely like a check, and then deny any responsibility for the consequences. Thieves know that. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/66 "2017-03-18T23:29:45Z")
I Googled “free shredding day [county name]” and found that my county has free shredding days once a month. Has the OP tried doing this search for his own city or county? ETA: Belatedly noticed this was a zombie. Guess it’s a moot point for the OP by now. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/67 "2017-03-18T23:40:28Z")
Burning is the only NSA approved method. Make sure you stir the ashes. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/68 "2017-03-18T23:43:24Z")
I started reading this thread but became suspicious that the OP was quite resistant to the idea of actual shredding, as one would do with papers, and keener on bathtubs full of chemicals to dispose of 200 pounds of “papers.” Best to not get involved I thought. So I’m relieved to see that he went with a shredding solution as I expected to see him asking about using a woodchipper next. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/69 "2017-03-20T15:09:39Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > … At least the shred can be recycled… I was surprised to learn recently that that’s not always true. From [here](http://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-shredded-paper/): “Once you shred your personal documents, it shortens the fibers and lowers the grade of paper from high grade to mixed grade. Mixed grade paper is still recyclable, but you may have a harder time finding a recycler who will take it.” ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/70 "2017-03-20T17:27:17Z")
Why would anyone feel the need to shred old utility bills??? Will thieves get the account number and have your electricity turned off??? ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143/71 "2017-03-20T18:05:00Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > Why would anyone feel the need to shred old utility bills??? Will thieves get the account number and have your electricity turned off??? Is your utility account linked to your bank account (e.g., via some kind of auto-payment)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-easy-alternative-to-shredding-important-papers/671143.md?page=3)