Welcome to GreenItUp, a database of common items, and how to reduce, reuse, and recycle them.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Newspaper

Reduce

Read news online.

Read the newspaper at your local library.

Reuse

Make paper mache (thanks, Crystal), possibly to make a piñata.

Make paper. This was contributed by a reader, Amazon. Sounds like a fun project. :o ) “I make new paper out of old newspapers (the material is so thin it makes pulp quickly) All you have to do is cut it all up with a scissors [I suppose sending it through a shredder, if possible, might help?] until you’ve got a bowl full of dime sized peices (adding dryer lint makes it hold a little better). Pour water over it and let the stuff sit over night. Then mash the mixture up with whatevers handy until it looks soupy. Drain out the water by globbing it on an old screen. Cover it with a piece of cloth. Smooth it out with a rolling pin, and let sit until dry. It’ll bleach white if you let it dry in the sun, and if you want the paper nice and smooth iron it out when you’re done.”

Use as gift wrap (thanks, Crystal).

Use as packing material for shipping or moving instead of bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts (thanks, Crystal).

Recycle

Newspaper makes great bedding for vermicomposting. Mix soaked strips of newspaper with kitchen scraps and let worms eat it up and poop out terrific fertilizer for your plants.

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2 Comments »

  1. Crystal said,

    July 28, 2007 @ 12:31 am

    reuse: paper mache!!! or use it to wrap presents or use it if youre moving to pad shit instead of buying bubble wrap.

  2. Amazon said,

    July 31, 2007 @ 3:04 pm

    reuse: I make new paper out of old newspapers (the material is so thin it makes pulp quickly) All you have to do is cut it all up with a scissors until you’ve got a bowl full of dime sized peices (adding dryer lint makes it hold a little better). Pour water over it and let the stuff sit over night. Then mash the mixture up with whatevers handy until it looks soupy. Drain out the water by globbing it on an old screen. Cover it with a piece of cloth. Smooth it out with a rolling pin, and let sit until dry. It’ll bleach white if you let it dry in the sun, and if you want the paper nice and smooth iron it out when you’re done.

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