Paper Shredder Alternatives

Home paper shredder are an easy and inexpensive way to get rid of your private papers, but their are other alternatives.  The following is a list of alternatives to the home paper shredder, from the methods that are tried and true, to methods that are tried and ridiculous.

One of the easiest methods is simply to burn your papers.  Although some would argue that this presents an environmental concern due to more pollution being put in the air, it can not be any more polluting than creating, shipping and operating a paper shredder, as well as the electrical consumption and lubricating oil required.  If you have a wood burning fireplace, then you probably don't need a shredder.  Otherwise, you can save up all of your documents, create a safe fire pit (consult your local boy scout), and invite the neighbors over for a marshmallow roast.  The humorous part of this, is that people actually do this.

Have children?  Nothing makes a child happier than destruction.  Whether you supply your child some kid safe scissors, or let them do the work by hand, you will not be able to find your children enough paper, once they know you are allowing sanctioned destruction.

Only parts of every document truly hold any real confidential information.  Just tear out these parts, and flush them, put them in the diaper genie, or bury them in the backyard.  Combine that with a black magic marker, and you can foil some pretty determined thieves.

Have an office with an industrial shredder?  Tote you most critical documents there, or simply save all your papers in one big box, and then shred it all at once at your local shredder service company.  All these methods will work, but there is something special about that hum of destruction, when a piece of paper is devoured by my home paper shredder.