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Post by blessedapt on Jun 13, 2010 20:30:02 GMT -5
I have amassed more than one huge basket, just of address labels that I receive from charities for fundraising. I'll never use most of them in my lifetime. I don't think I can put them in my shredder without gumming up the works (tried something similar once before, and the the sheet got stuck when something sticky got unloosed), but I don't want thousands of sheets of my name and address in the trash. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
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Post by moggyfan on Jun 13, 2010 20:39:10 GMT -5
Well, I throw them away all the time. I don't think anybody can do much with your name and address; that info is probably readily available to anyone who wants it anyway.
But if you really don't want to toss them--do you have a fireplace? Because you could wait till cold weather & burn 'em.
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Post by dtesposito on Jun 13, 2010 20:41:41 GMT -5
Honestly, I would just throw them in the trash. It doesn't matter if someone has your name and address, there's nothing they can do with just that information--in fact, it would be a very rare person whose name and address isn't available somewhere, even if it's just on the internet. I wouldn't stress over it.
If you absolutely can't bring yourself to just throw them loose in the trash, you can wrap them up in some kind of large envelope or paper and put sturdy tape around it before you throw it away.
You're right, trying to shred them would not be a good idea!
Diane
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lostnjunk
New Member
Joined: September 2009
Posts: 92
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Post by lostnjunk on Jun 13, 2010 21:11:10 GMT -5
If you really want to do something to ruin them, if you have some house paint or something you could paint over them and then throw them away. House paint would be nice and thick.
I burn my stuff like that out in the yard in a small bbq with a lid that we bought just for that purpose. In town you have to have a permit to have a bonfire but they cant do anything about you pretending to bbq starting the coals with paper right? The lidded kind will keep any ash from straying into dry spots in the yard.
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Post by mellowyellow on Jun 13, 2010 22:15:38 GMT -5
If you keep them:
Use them to label books you have and maybe loan out to friends. Label tupperware containers and plates you take to potluck dinners. Label umbrellas. Cameras. Glasses cases.
You get the idea. If you want to use them, there are plenty of non mail uses.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Jun 13, 2010 22:38:10 GMT -5
my idea was to rid by fire as well..
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Post by sparkle on Jun 14, 2010 0:45:40 GMT -5
My first thought was also to burn them. I really like Lost's idea about the barbecue. I, too, throw them out all the time. An address label doesn't do anything for anybody; they want bank accounts and credit card numbers and those are encrypted these days to protect you. Definitely don't shred them.
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Post by lizzie on Jun 14, 2010 4:03:15 GMT -5
I am sure I remember someone on the board talking once about turning old bank statements etc into papier mache with water in a bucket! However, I suggest you just start ripping the labels in half, if you don't want to just put them in the rubbish; rip rip rip - just do as many as you can during a tv commercial, and then into the bin. Over time you will work your way through the basket. And then when future ones come in, just rip them straight away as soon as you take them out of the letterbox. I read somewhere that these charity address labels work quite well in getting donations out of people, because it is psychologically hard for us to throw away things with our name on, and because we feel guilt if don't donate/buy stuff in return for this 'gift'. But they are just clutter; kiss them goodbye and wave to them as they go int the bin, !
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Post by phoenixcat on Jun 14, 2010 10:14:19 GMT -5
Do you have pets? And associated bags of pet waste? I read somewhere that if you didn't have a place to properly dispose of meds to put them in cat litter so they wouldn't go down the drain. Anyway - instantly thought of that with your dilemma. No "thief" is going to root though dirty pet waste to read your name and address especially if the labels are on the bottom . ETA - I didn't mean to mix drugs or labels with cat litter while in use - just add the disposal items to the garbage bag before adding the cat waste. PC
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Post by dtesposito on Jun 14, 2010 10:25:23 GMT -5
Before I had a working shredder I would cut things into a few pieces and throw them into the dirty cat litter bag--I figured, if you want something so badly that you'll stick your hand into a bag of cat poo, have at it!!
No, seriously, what could someone do with a name and address? If they're lurking around your dumpster, they can just as easily get your name and address off of your mailbox!
Diane
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Post by Chris on Jun 14, 2010 10:36:48 GMT -5
I've never had any problems shredding these.
Here lately, I don't get as many labels in the mail but my motherinlaw does and I have shredded them for her. I think as long as the panel is intact and you hold it upright and feed it into the shredder it will be ok.
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jun 14, 2010 11:20:12 GMT -5
- if they are the "peel-off" type, don't put them in shredder.
If they are the "licking/moistening" type, you can shred them if they are dry.
got coffee grounds?
Mix in trash with coffee grounds. Too icky for anyone to want to deal with.
or try the prior suggestions of mixing with cat litter or dog poop.
-
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Post by def6 on Jun 14, 2010 18:14:40 GMT -5
We burn stuff like that out here in the country.
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Post by blessedapt on Jun 14, 2010 20:12:59 GMT -5
First off, I'd like to say I am extremely grateful for everyone's responses. There are very good ideas in here and I think these will help me get over this so I can move on to other things to conquer. I live in the Big Bad Apple, and there are people here who are creative with just a name and address. Or even worse, if people are ransacking garbage and your stuff gets tossed around or ends up in the wrong place, you can get a fine!! Again, thank you Moggyfan, Diane, LostnJunk, MellowYellow, BigTimeTroubles, WorldlyGoods, Lizzie, PhoenixCat, Chris, Lioness and def6....your advice is greatly appreciated! You really made my day!
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Post by Fivecat on Jun 14, 2010 20:53:04 GMT -5
Since you've already gotten excellent advice on what to do with the ones you already have and i have nothing to add there, I'll just say that in the future, when you get news ones in, rip them up and put them in the garbage as soon as you open them. That way, it saves a mountain of work to do at once. Fivecat
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