Recycling

[mintymow]

How secure are papers that are put out for recycling.

[woofgang]

I wouldn't put anything out with my address on or that I didn't want read.

[tonyav]

Depends on what type of papers your talking about, old news papers / magazines or old utility bill and bank statements.

[mintymow]

Hi tonyav, yes probably old utility bills, not bank statements. I usually cut off my name and address but have just had a good sort out and have loads, just wondering about a short cut and dumping the lot in the recycling as is. So much quicker but perhaps not such a good idea.

[tonyav]

If you have a shredder then shred them, if not you could burn them maybe.

[Buenchico]

Theoretically you should shred them all. That renders them ineligible for recycling, meaning that they'll ended up in the general waste bin anyway. So I'll sometimes throw documents straight into that bin (without bothering to shred them) if:
(a) they're not particularly confidential ; and
(b) I can ensure that they're covered in something really nasty, such as used cooking fat oil or soiled cat litter.

[joko]

well you put them out in the street in a box, so they are only secure if no-one wants to look at them - if someone does then they are no secure at all

[Mrsspagnoli57]

Why can't you put shredded paper for recycling? Interested to know-I've put it in my bin before, but luckily we have solid fuel central heating so I burn quite a bit.

[ummmm]

I haven't got a shredder so what I do is tear them up and put them in a sink of hot water, leave them for about 5 mins and wring out into balls.

[Baldric]

If we turn up at our local tip with a dustbin bag full of 'shreddies' they want the whole lot, bag and all, in the paper and cardboard bin.

[Buenchico]

>>>well you put them out in the street in a box

Only if your local council has separate boxes for different recyclables. Ours just has a big wheelie bin for all recyclables. If anyone wants to search through mine, just to see if I might have accidentally put some confidential stuff in there, they'll have to fight their way under dozens of empty cat food tins, and piles of old newspapers & magazines, first!

[Mamyalynne]

I used to do the hot water trick too, I now have a shredder.

[Buenchico]

>>>Why can't you put shredded paper for recycling?

For the same reason that (in most areas) you can't put plastic film (e.g.carrier bags) in: the automated sorting machines can't handle it.

[sandyRoe]

Do people no longer use them to light the fire?

[gingejbee]

Chris's comment that "shredding renders them ineligible for recycling"....ain't necessarily so. Presumably it depends on your own council's rules...but we can shred, bag up and place in recycling bin.

[Buenchico]

>>>Do people no longer use them to light the fire?

Most people don't have open fires, Sandy. Indeed, none of the houses on this estate (and almost certainly on most other estates built in the past 50 years) have fireplaces or chimneys.

[ladybirder]

I burn them or but them in hot water with a tea bag added and then screw up.

[Buenchico]

Gingejbee:
Here are our local rules:
http://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/assets/UploadsMSDC/Environment/Waste-Delivery/Getting-it-right.pdf

[woofgang]

our council don't accept shredding for recycling because people don't only shred paper but also CD's credit cards, bubble padded envelopes with their addresses on and also they shred stapled paper.

[tonyav]

It's the same with our council to, woofgang.

[Sycamore3House]

There is a service in my city that offers to shred things for you. Companies use them also. It is attached to one of those Self Storage places.