Recycle Newspaper and Office Paper
NEWSPAPER
Why Recycle Newspaper?
38.2 percent of our total waste is from paper and paperboard. If we don’t recycle or reuse our waste like newspaper it ends up in the landfill and takes up valuable space, by recycling we can extend the lives of our landfills. If all our newspapers were recycled we could save 250,000,000 trees a year.
What You Can Do
Numerous recycling centers or landfills accept newspaper
(See Resources).
If your community does not have access
to a recycling center or landfill you may not be able
to recycle newspaper, but you can reuse it. Here
are a few ideas for reusing newspaper:
- The first and probably easiest way to reuse a newspaper is to shred it and add it to your existing compost pile, provided that you have confirmed that the ink used is natural and non-toxic. Shredded newspaper will hold moisture and does break down when mixed with the compost. Be careful not to add any of the glossy magazine or advertising sections, as they usually contain an extra chemical to add the shine to them, which you do not want to add to your “natural” growing mixture.
- Another way to recycle newspapers is in the garden, using the newspaper as mulch. Simply lay out the sections, overlapping them in heavy mat around the plants. This provides a great way to keep the weeds out and helps keep moisture around the plants. Cover the exposed paper with compost mixture and you’ve got a well-protected garden.
- You could also save wrapping paper and find a use for old newspaper by using newspaper for wrapping gifts.
- Another great use for old newspapers is to make newspaper logs for fires. Start rolling newspaper diagonally from a corner instead of the bottom. As the log gets wider, tuck the outer edges inside and keep rolling. Once the log is finished make a slit into the log and tuck the flap into it. Use string or a label if you want to sell them to hold them closed.
You could use any of these ideas and spread them in your community by involving the youth and making it fun. If they learn and have fun they could be your best tools for spreading awareness across your community.
OFFICE PAPER
Why Recycle Office Paper?
Paper and paperboard make up the largest component
of solid waste by weight. In the U.S., over 40%
of municipal solid waste is paper - about 71.8 million
tons each year. Recycling office paper makes economic
and environmental sense. Recycling office
waste paper saves valuable landfill space - 3 cubic
yards for every ton of paper recycled - and extends
the lives of our landfills.
What You Can Do
Numerous recycling centers or landfills accept office paper (See Resources). If your community does not have access to a recycling center or landfill you may not be able to recycle office paper, but you can reuse it. Here are a few ideas for reusing office paper:
- Encourage community members to re-use envelopes and use both sides of paper
- Encourage community members to buy recycled paper products wherever possible.
- Playgroups and schools may appreciate being given odd rolls of wallpaper, or any other kind of paper, for painting on or for other uses in the classroom. They are also often glad to receive newspapers to cover the tables for craft activities
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