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As I said, the paper (books, bills, junk mail, printouts etc.) gets shredded and used for animal bedding, which then goes into the compost pile. This kind of localized recycling has all kinds of environmental benefits, including the enrichment of my garden soil, which reduces water used for irrigation and improves my home-grown produce.

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Yes, but shredding your books instead of donating them just to spite a reseller seems like sour grapes regardless of the justification.

I agree that there is a temptation to wonder 'what if' about some young starry-eyed dreamer who may stumble upon a book who has instead had that chance snatched from him and will now turn to a life of crime but the reality is the book is far more likely headed for the trash heap than to a loving home. That being the case, it is far preferable to have the book go to a reseller and on to someone who wants it.

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