Reuse, recycle our old newspapers |27 December 2019

Stack of old newspapers can be put to good and creative uses instead of disposing of them in the landfill (Photo: Anel Robert)

How many of us have a stack of newspapers or magazines lying in a corner of our house and we just discard them as they start piling up?

This year, the staff of Seychelles NATION are trying to embark on an eco-friendly approach and for our secret Santa, we tried reusing and recycling our old newspapers. The staff collaborated and wrapped their gifts in colourful advert pages of the newspapers. Another organisation in Seychelles had the same idea as us.

Why is it important to recycle and reuse? According to environmental sites, one of the most common items recycled across the globe is old newspapers. Hundreds of tonnes of waste paper are collected daily from homes, offices, etc. There was a time when they were disposed by burning or dumping in landfills. Nowadays, the best and most eco-friendly way to get rid of old papers is to recycle them so that they can be used again for different purposes.

Marthe Joseph, our senior graphic designer, notes that “When you recycle unwanted newspapers you contribute to the reduction of waste materials that are sent to our landfills. This also prevents us from buying more wrapping papers”.

Ed, our young graphic designer, also agrees to this idea saying that “we need to start thinking of our environment and choose simpler ways of doing things.”

What happens to the environment when we start recycling? This in turn minimises the emission of harmful gases such as methane into the environment. 37 per cent of the output of methane gas is from landfills so by recycling organic materials like paper, anaerobic decomposition and methane gas production is significantly reduced. You protect the environment against pollution and damage by recycling waste paper. Recycling old newspapers is also a wonderful way to conserve the few natural resources left on the planet

Reducing and recycling are keys to preventing additional waste in our landfills, and it is actually easy to find ways to reuse newspapers.

Some ways to recycle newspapers gathered from the internet:

1. Clean

Newspapers can be used to clean stainless steel, mirrors, and windows. A stainless steel sink will look as good as new if you scrub it with wet newspaper. A simple way to get shiny mirrors is to wipe the mirror with water and then quickly dry it with crumpled newspaper with circular movements. For windows, add some white vinegar in the water for an extra effective way to get streak and chemical free windows!

2. Keep odours out

Sometimes when suitcases, backpacks, or other carrying items are not used for a long time, they can develop a musty odour inside. If you put some crumpled newspapers in them, you will avoid that smelly surprise next time you take them out. The same rule applies for storing clothes for a long time.

3. Stay dry

One feature of newspapers is that they absorb liquids very easily. This makes newspapers excellent lining material for shelves. It’s also a good idea to put some newspapers in the fridge underneath the vegetables. It will save you a lot of cleaning. Similarly, newspapers come in handy when lining at the bottom of a bio-waste container, as it will absorb most liquids.

4. Get crafty

Art teachers usually love newspapers as they can be used in a variety of ways in arts. At home you can try to make papier-maché from newspapers, which in turn can be used to make sculptures, masks, or even a piñata for parties.

5. Protect your shoes

If you store shoes, especially leather shoes, a tightly wadded newspaper in the shoe will preserve the correct shape. Leather handbags and hats will also benefit from the same treatment. If your shoes are wet, the paper will allow the shoes to dry faster and, at the same time, prevent mould from forming

6. Get rid of weeds

Newspapers will help you fight weeds if you spread newspaper strips between garden rows. This will keep the soil moist and create a weed barrier. Just make sure you use non-toxic newsprint.

7. Make bags

With time, newspapers will compost, making it excellent material for bio-bags. With a few twists and turns, a newspaper can also be turned into a seed pot for indoor seeding. The plant can be later transplanted directly into the ground with the paper pot. Avoid using glossy magazines which often use heavy metal based inks, and instead opt for water or soy based ink options.

8. Ripen fruit

Fruit like peaches, avocados, or tomatoes can be quite under-ripe when you get them from the shop. To speed the process of maturation, gently wrap the fruit in newspapers.

9. Make your own paper

With a blender, hot water and some starch you can make your own recycled paper. If you add some decorative elements such as coloured thread, dried flowers, or glitter you can create unique invitation or greeting cards.

10. Donate

Even if you do not have any use for that newspaper pile gathering in the corner, someone else might. Animal shelters sometimes use newspapers to line the cages. Thrift stores can also welcome newspapers as they can use them to pack fragile items. Relatives and friends with fireplaces will welcome the extra help when lighting a fire. Just use your imagination and give new life to newspapers!

Compiled by Vidya Gappy