Where do you get your toilet paper?

I get my 100% recycled toilet paper at our local Fresh & Easy. I like to purchase 100% recycled paper products as often as possible. I get my mailing supplies from thrift stores, or reuse stores, and I use recycled materials from the recycling and trash bins for the stuffing. I know it sounds weird, but it's simple and clean (unless I make the unfortunate mistake of sending send old bread bags to a person with a wicked wheat allergy-that might cause me more problems than I'm willing to deal with).

Saving trash

 

There is a big shredder in [one of] my office[s]. Yesterday, I was trying to figure out how to get inside of it to get to the gold-filled middle, also known as "piles upon piles of raw material". There was no opening, no lock. I looked for a minute, then gave up. It wasn't something I was really wanting, but I thought it would be cool if I could take some home every once in a while.

One of my coworkers asked what I was doing (naturally). I said, "I love shredded paper". She replied, "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope", said I.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because it's awesome. You can put it in your compost pile. You can use it in packages. I just love it."

She stared at me for a good fifteen seconds without saying anything, and I stared right back. I was not ashamed, and I wasn't going to feel the shame that she was sending my way. But I couldn't waver in my own mind, not for her sake, but for mine. In order to truly love myself, I had to own what it is that I love, even something so small and seemingly insignificant.

Because seriously? When I get up in the morning, it isn't to make money (It's pretty obvious I'm never going to make much anyhow). It's to save trash.

I love trash, and I'm okay with it. Boo-yah.

Shredded paper is amazing!

So, I love shredding paper, and I got it into my head that I would make a manual shredder at some point, but since I'm not that kind of girl (even though that would be super cool), I never did. But then [insert drum roll here...], I went to a rummage sale, and found a mini manual shredder. It was in the exact same spot I found my super-long stapler (which was equally exciting). Both times, I looked around for someone who would be as excited as I was, but I was alone, so I had a solo celebration.

Shredded paper can be used for a number of things, the least of which is getting rid of things you don't want anyone else to see ("You mean like love letters to my ex boyfriend that I still write even though we haven't been together for years?" Yup, just like those). You could save all of that shredded paper and put it all in a bag and use it for packaging material. You could get a pet hamster, and use it for the hamster's bed. You could put it in your compost pile, or your worm bin. You could make a mattress with it, or a butt pillow. You would spray it with glue and make a funky hat, or use it for confetti at your next party. The possibilities are endless, really.