Phone Book Mulch?

Woodenzoo · June 15, 2007

Since I don't have a steady supply of newspaper and it's that time of year when some new phone books come out, I was wondering if shredding the pages from the old books would work just as well as newspaper?
I checked one out and they mentioned that they are printed with soy ink and they encourage recycling, but really, I don't want to haul my old phone book to a drop off point...
So, has anyone used phone books for mulch? Think the yellow pages will work too?

On a side note, can I layer the 'paper' and then top with a compost/manure mixture? The other way around or neither?
Thanks!
Cathy

dcarch · June 15, 2007

Off-topic:

When CDs first came out many years ago, I bought a CD which has all the telephone directories of the entire country, yellow and white pages, on it.

I bought it because the ad says,"If you buy this CD, you will be saving 400 trees"

On-topic:

I have used phone books to mulch. I cut the phone books into pieces using the table saw. otherwise takes too much time to tear them apart.

dcarch

Thawley · June 15, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarch

I cut the phone books into pieces using the table saw.

...to the horror of any of my former shop teachers

Warren · June 17, 2007

if you local area has a thrifty nickel they give area the old newspapers when the new ones come out every week. I will look in to it for next year. I will bring a paper shredder to work to take care of them.

June 15, 2007	#1
Woodenzoo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ohio z6 Posts: 141	Phone Book Mulch? Since I don't have a steady supply of newspaper and it's that time of year when some new phone books come out, I was wondering if shredding the pages from the old books would work just as well as newspaper? I checked one out and they mentioned that they are printed with soy ink and they encourage recycling, but really, I don't want to haul my old phone book to a drop off point... So, has anyone used phone books for mulch? Think the yellow pages will work too? On a side note, can I layer the 'paper' and then top with a compost/manure mixture? The other way around or neither? Thanks! Cathy

June 15, 2007	#2
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Off-topic: When CDs first came out many years ago, I bought a CD which has all the telephone directories of the entire country, yellow and white pages, on it. I bought it because the ad says,"If you buy this CD, you will be saving 400 trees" On-topic: I have used phone books to mulch. I cut the phone books into pieces using the table saw. otherwise takes too much time to tear them apart. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato Last edited by dcarch; June 15, 2007 at 11:21 AM.

June 17, 2007	#4
Warren Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kilgore Texas Posts: 102	if you local area has a thrifty nickel they give area the old newspapers when the new ones come out every week. I will look in to it for next year. I will bring a paper shredder to work to take care of them.