You can make your own recycled paper by processing scraps of paper into pulp and drying. "Recycling" is the simple act of changing and reusing something so that you don't have to throw it away. Chances are, most of the materials you'll need are scattered around the house – and recycling is easier than you think!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Paper Pulp
Step 1. Collect waste paper
The texture and color of the old paper you are reusing will directly indicate the quality of the "finished" recycled paper. You can use printing paper, newsprint, (clean) tissue and paper towels, copy paper, wrapping paper, brown paper for wrapping, lined paper, and even old envelopes. Remember: the paper will shrink and shrivel as it goes through the soaking and drying process. Therefore, you will need more paper scraps than the amount of recycled paper you want to make. Here's a further explanation
- 4-5 sheets of newsprint should yield two small sheets of recycled paper. This ratio may vary depending on the type and thickness of the paper you are pulping.
- If you want "regular" recycled paper with consistent colors, be careful what type of paper you use. For example, if you mostly use white strips of paper then the end result will be more like a standard sheet of printing paper.
Step 2. Tear off the paper
Tear pieces of paper into small pieces; the smoother, the better. If the pieces of paper are relatively large, the end result will tend to be thick and untidy. Put the sheets of paper into the shredder, then grind or tear the sheets of paper so that they are the same size and slightly smaller.
Step 3. Soak the crushed paper
Place the crushed pieces of paper in a bowl or saucepan, and fill the container with hot water. Stir the mixture to make sure that the paper is completely submerged. Let the paper sit for a few hours to set, stirring occasionally.
Consider adding a few tablespoons of cornstarch (maizena) after a few hours to ensure consistency. This step is not required, but some recycling paper craftsmen believe that this method is effective. If you added cornstarch, stir the flour thoroughly in the mixture and add a little hot water to help incorporation
Step 4. Blend the softened paper mixture using a blender
After a few hours, place two or three handfuls of the softened paper mixture into the blender. Fill the blender with water until it is half full. Run the blender on a fast spin to crush the paper into a pulp. When ready to use, the paper will have a texture like cooked oats.
If you don't have a blender, shredding and soaking (manually) should do pretty well. However, pulping with mechanical equipment will help you produce a smoother pulp
Method 2 of 3: Filter Paper
Step 1. Prepare gauze (fine woven wire)
You will use the tool to sift through the wet pulp, filtering the water from the clumps of paper. As it dries on the gauze surface, the pulp will gradually thicken into recycled paper. So, it is important that the dimensions of the gauze match the size of the sheet of paper you want to make. In this case, pieces of window screen (mosquito net) are perfect for use; approximately 20, 32 cm × 30, 48 cm, or as large as you like.
- Try to put a barrier around the screen to keep it in the pulp. An old wooden photo frame will work well, but you can also glue a thin piece of wood with glue or stapler around the outside of the screen to create a "frame."
- If the gauze is metal, make sure it is not rusted. Rust may stain the paper you produce.
Step 2. Fill the pot/pan with paper pulp
Use a pot/basin that is usually used for washing dishes, baking sheets, or a wide, shallow bucket. The container should have a minimum depth of about 10-15 cm. Pour the pulp into the container until it is half full. Then, add water until the mixture is about 7-10 cm deep. Usually the container is full, but not so much this time as adding the gauze will cause the pulp and water mixture to overflow.
Step 3. Place the gauze in the container
Push the gauze into the bottom of the container until it is completely under the water and pulp. Gently slide the gauze back and forth through the mixture to break any lumps. Next, lift the gauze up vertically. The pulp should spread evenly in the form of a thin layer over the gauze surface.
Alternatively: first place the gauze on the bottom of the container. Next, pour water and pulp over it. When you lift it out of the water, the gauze will filter the pulp
Step 4. Place the gauze on a towel to dry it
Make sure that the part of the gauze containing the paper is facing up and away from the surface of the towel. However, the filtering process itself will not filter all the water droplets. The pulp will still need to dry for at least another hour or so. Let the pulp dry, and don't touch it.
Method 3 of 3: Performing Paper Presses
Step 1. Remove excess water
After an hour, spread a sheet or cheesecloth over the pulp in the gauze. Next, press the sheet/fabric surface firmly with a dry sponge to remove all excess water from the pulp. The end goal is to transfer the paper from the gauze to the surface of the sheet/fabric. The sheets/fabric used must be flat, clean, dry, and not wrinkled, so that they are the correct print for the paper you are making.
Step 2. Lift the screen and turn it over
The paper inside should come off and fall on the sheets/cloth. Place the sheet/cloth containing the paper on a flat surface to dry for one night or at least a few hours. Place in a dry and warm place.
Try not to dry the paper directly under heat, or too close to a heat source. Doing so may cause the paper to wrinkle and dry unevenly
Step 3. Remove the paper from the sheet/fabric surface
When the pulp is dry, carefully remove it from the surface of the cloth. Well, now you have a sheet of dry, hard-pressed paper that is functional! If this works then you can use the same equipment to produce as much recycled paper as you like.
Step 4. Do the test
To determine the quality of the paper, write something on the paper with a pencil or pen. Think about whether the paper is absorbent enough; is it bright enough to see the sentences you wrote; and whether classified as a paper that is quite good and durable. If you plan to make more recycled paper, record and remember this information so that you can improve the quality of the recycled paper you make later.
- If the resulting paper is too rough, it may be because you didn't grind the pulp finely enough. Meanwhile, if the sheets of paper are separating from each other it's probably because you didn't use enough water to hold the paper fibers together.
- If the paper is too colorful (the problem is that it is difficult to see the sentences you are writing) then you will need to use more of the same colored paper. Next time, try to use white paper in its entirety.
Tips
- You can add color to your paper by adding two or three drops of food coloring to the pulp mixture while it's in the blender.
- Iron the paper to dry it faster. Try placing the paper between two pieces of cloth, then pressing it down with a warm iron. This method can also produce a flat sheet of paper that is safer and smoother.
