What do you do with the paper waste at home – old newspapers, old notebooks, junk mail, printing paper with one side printed?
Do you throw it away to become the paper waste that ends up in landfills?
Paper waste contributes about 26% of the total waste at landfills! And about four billion trees are cut every year to serve the paper needs across the world!
To avoid this kind of wastage, and take a small step towards saving the environment, here are a few ways to reuse old paper at home.
They are as follows:
1. Cleaning Windows
Old newspapers can be used to clean windows since they work better than a cloth duster. Using a chemical solution or vinegar helps make your windows shine without leaving a streak if wiped with paper.
2. Lining Shelf
Another use for old newspapers is to line the shelf in your wardrobes, bathroom, kitchen or pantry. They will save you the money needed to buy shelf-liners in addition to reusing paper and reducing paper waste.
3. Packing Material
Instead of using bubble wrap, use old newspapers to wrap your fragile items before putting them in a box! You can even shred old and used paper and use the shredded material to make piles of packaging material to protect your fragile items/ gifts.
4. Book Covers
Instead of buying book covers, use your old newspapers to cover your scrapbooks and notebooks.
5. Gift Wrapping
Be innovative and wrap your gifts in old newspapers! You can even make a bow by cutting thin strips. Save the environment while saving money at the same time!
6. Ripen Tomatoes
This is a quick hack to ripen green tomatoes. Wrap them up in old newspaper and put them in a box with a lid. They will turn red and perfect for use in no time!
7. Bonfire
Use old newspapers to start a bonfire, campfire or a grill!
8. Removing Odours
Put old newspapers in your suitcase for a few weeks to remove any stale smells and musty odours.
9. Shoe Deodoriser
Stuff crumpled up old newspaper into your smelly shoes and leave it overnight. It will absorb all the odour leaving your shoes fresh!
10. Compost
Add shredded used paper to your compost heap for a well-balanced compost pile! Since paper is carbon-rich, it will be a perfect aid. However, make sure not to use paper with toxic inks or glossy magazines.
11. Pet Litter Box Liners
By placing sheets of used paper at the bottom of your pet’s litter box, you can save on litter. Additionally, the paper will absorb some of the odour and moisture, leaving you with a fresher smelling litter!
12. Paper Mache
You can use old newspapers, glossy magazines, and comic strips to teach your kids how to make paper mache products and turn it into a fun activity to enhance their creativity!
13. Car Floor Covers
By laying a sheet of old paper on the floor of your vehicle, you can protect your carpets since all the water will get absorbed by the paper, keeping the dirt off it.
14. Taking Notes & Doodling
Used paper can always be reused to jot down shopping lists, addresses, and simple messages and are also a great way to pass the time when on a call by doodling on them!
Conclusion
There are a number of ways in which paper can be reused in our everyday life. All we have to do is be creative and conscious of not wasting perfectly reusable paper.
Taking such small steps can do wonders to our environment if we make it a habit.
Do your bit for the environment! Also, whenever possible, use recycled paper. Buy your stock of recycled paper stationary at Rescript now!
