Tip for disposing of personal papers with your vital info.

[tcaarabians]

We all know we need to dispose of personal papers that include account numbers and, in particular, our social security number. For years, I did the laborious act of shredding them and sometimes would throw them into the fireplace. - an iffy safety action should pieces fly about.   

A friend recently showed me a much easier way....

.. you put them in a large bucket of water and let them age for a bit. You stir occasionally. Voila.. you have unreadable pulp left. You drain the water, scoop out the pulp and throw it away.  I still cut up old credit cards and throw them into different trash bags. cheryl o7o

[Stitches]

What a great idea!!!!   I have a metal bucket that I keep to put sensitive papers and use it as kindling.    I have about 2 years of papers here because we have not used the fireplace much in the last two years.    During the summer time it actually is place IN the fireplace.   Right now it is overflowing.    I'm going to try that.   And yes, old credit cards get cut up into about 10 to 15 pieces and are placed in different cans - sometimes even on different trash days.   I thought I was the only one crazy enough to spend that much energy into properly disposing of old cards.

[Jirka]

Hum-m-m-m. Good idea, and I wonder if instead of throwing the pulp away, it could be used to make  . . . paper (?!!?)  Lots of tutorials on-line (video and text)

[tcaarabians]

Jirka.. brilliant idea. You could also add a bit of Elmer's glue to the mixture and voila.. you have clay for kids to play with. .. or perhaps a decoupage project.. or cookie cutters and some water colors.. another kid project.  I think we're on a roll. cheryl o7o

[SkierBob]

We throw napkins in our compost bin.  I wonder if we could throw paper in there after it's been turned to pulp? 

I go through a ton of printer paper and hadn't considered composting it until reading this thread.

[Toolman]

I like it, we could sink a ship.