Recyling or other uses for shredded paper and chunks of polystyrene, anyone?

[madamez]

Suggestions please. AM in the process of shredding about 3 years' worth of obsolete paperwork and also have a bundle of polysterene chunks from my luvly new flatpack furniture.

Papier Mache (sp?)?

Make logs for the fire?

Animal bedding?

No idea for polystyrene sorry

If you have a compost bin, you can soak the shredded paper and add it to the compost (no danger of anyone getting hold of your details that way ), but obvioulsy don't out it all in at once .

no idea about the polystyrene, but maybe your local civic amenity site will take it?

Try here

The polystyrene is fab for putting at the bottom of large plant pots (esp heavy ones) instead of stones/crocks.
It helps improve drainage, saves on compost and isn't too heavy- if you're filling something like a teracotta planter with compost and plants it can weigh a ton!

If you're not horticulturally minded, a neighbour may be! (I could do with some myself- got a lovely planter for mothers day )

Don't use shreadded strips of paper for small animal bedding. they can get it twisted round their legs, it can cut off the blood supply and cause horrible injuries.

you can use 'confetti cut' paper

try this:

recylethis

I thought polystyrene was one of those Evil Things that will litter the planet and live on when we are all long dead?

with the paper pulp down and make your own paper or you can make your own cards etc...i done it with all my old college paperwork and added packs of flower seeds and glitter to the mix and made birthday cards that you can plant when they are done all my family love them....so much so my sis has asked me to make them as favours for her wedding!

You could try freecycling the polysterene in case someone wants it for their plantpots...

mummyoftwobunnies, your cards sound lovely. How exactly do you make them?