Recycling saves the environment, but to do so is more than simply collecting recyclables and putting them on the roadside. There are many things you can do with used paper around your house. Follow the steps below to maximize your recycling activities.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Recycling in Yard & Garage
Step 1. Turn newsprint and office paper into fertilizer
Tear the paper into small pieces, and place them around your plants. This can help prevent weed growth and keep the soil moist. The paper will slowly rot and provide nutrients to the soil.
- Corrugated cardboard is also effective as a fertilizer.
- Do not use glossy paper or colored ink.
Step 2. Add newsprint to the compost
Newsprint will add carbon content to a balanced compost pile, and is classified as "brown waste".
Step 3. Create spill protection
Use old newspapers as a spill catcher when repairing a motor vehicle or when painting and coloring furniture. Use old newspaper as a cover for all your craft projects.
Method 2 of 4: Recycling in the Office
Step 1. Print the back of the paper
Most printers only print on one side of the paper. If you are printing something that doesn't need to look professional, use paper that has been printed on one side.
Step 2. Turn the used paper into a notebook
Arrange a stack of scrap paper. Turn the papers down, then secure the top with staples or headless nails (nail brad)
Method 3 of 4: Recycling Around the House
Step 1. Make it as a cat litter holder
Shredded newspaper can be turned into an effective cat litter catcher. All you need is baking soda.
- Shredding paper, preferably with a paper shredder.
- Soak the paper in warm water. Add a small amount of dish soap that is biodegradable or biodegradable.
- Discard the water and soak again without soap.
- Sprinkle baking soda onto the paper and knead the mixture together. Squeeze out as much water as it contains.
- Place the dough in crumbs on a wire sieve and let it dry for a few days.
Step 2. Make a gift wrap
Use old newspapers to wrap gifts. Sunday comic strips are great for gift wrapping because of their vibrant colors.
Step 3. Use it to pack the box
Use old newspapers to fill in packages to be sent. Wrap fragile or fragile items in a layer of paper, and fill the empty spaces in the box with rolls of paper so that everything stays in place.
Step 4. For the book cover
You can use paper bags as book covers which you can decorate however you like for your old and new hardcover books.
Method 4 of 4: Recycling Through Waste Management Services
Step 1. Contact a waste management service company near you
Ask about the recycling services they provide, as well as whether there is a recycling center near where you live. Ask them about the details of what items can be recycled and which are not.
Step 2. Know what can and cannot be recycled
Different regions have different policies on what is acceptable for recycling, but the following are items that are generally accepted or not accepted for recycling
- What you can recycle: Newspapers, magazines, maps, packaging, envelopes, cardboard.
- What you can't recycle: Wax paper, laminated paper, pet food bags, food-soaked paper.
Step 3. Sort and place your recyclable items by the roadside
If your waste management company offers to recycle your trash, then remove the recyclable items that you have sorted by the roadside into a special recycling bin when it's time to throw out the trash.
Step 4. Take your used papers to a recycling center
If the cleaning company in your area can't recycle, or you have so much trash that it doesn't fit in the trash, pack your recyclables and take them to your local recycling center.
Tips
- Don't buy scrap paper. Use leftover paper from the back of the printer's scrap paper or use an application such as scrapbook on a computer.
- Don't print what you don't need.
- Keep a box in the kitchen or near the computer for loading paper - this will make it easier for you to remember to use the paper.
- Set your printer to print on both sides of the paper. If your printer can't do this, try printing one paper at a time, so you can turn the pages manually.
