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Loading...15 Ways to Reuse Newspaper
- Becky Striepe
- August 9, 2011
- 5:05 pm
- 179 comments
The U.S. publishes over 24 billion newspapers every year, and that’s not the only place that newsprint turns up. People use it to wrap packaging, to print junk mail fliers, and to create coupons. All told, that is tons and tons of paper waste every single year.
Recycling paper is a great way to put a dent in this waste, but paper recycling is far from an ideal solution. It’s inefficient, and each time you recycle paper, you’re really downcycling it into an inferior product.
We don’t get a paper at our house, but we still end up with our fair share of newsprint somehow. Sometimes, a fragile thrift store or yard sale find comes wrapped in newspaper. Other times, we get junk mail printed on newsprint. No matter how newsprint manages to creep into your life, I’m guessing that you cringe at the thought of wasting it, too.
Rather than toss all of that paper in the recycle bin, you can reuse old newspaper around your home and in the garden!
1. Clean windows or glass. Dip crumpled newspaper into water mixed with a splash of white vinegar, and clean those windows up without any streaks or harmful chemicals!
2. Burn it up. Instead of a starter log in the fireplace or at a bonfire, use tightly rolled pieces of newsprint instead.
3. Make a weed barrier. If you’re building a raised bed, lay out pieces of newspaper before you fill it up with dirt. The paper will help keep weeds from invading.
4. Wrap some gifts. It’s fun to go through your papers to find cute and colorful pages to use as gift wrap. When I was a kid, we loved wrapping presents up in the Sunday funnies.
5. Pack it up. Instead of plastic bubble wrap, wrap valuables in newspaper for shipping, and pad your box with more crumpled paper. You can take it a step further and include some ideas in the package for how your recipient can reuse all of that paper, too!
Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by salimfadhley
Read more: Conscious Consumer, Crafts & Design, Eco-friendly tips, Green, Home, Household Hints, Nature, Reduce, Recycle & Reuse, Surprising uses for ..., how to reuse newspaper, newspaper, recycle, reduce waste, reuse, reuse newspaper, upcycle, waste
Becky Striepe
Becky Striepe is a freelance writer and vegan crafter living in Atlanta, Georgia. Her life’s mission is to make green crafting and vegan food accessible to everyone! Like this article? You can follow Becky on Twitter or find her on Facebook!
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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people are talking
Great idea and thanks.
Thanks Made My Day :))
Good stuff! Thank you for sharing.
noted
Thanks
179 comments
+ add your ownThanks.
Will certainly try a newspaper out and see if it shines up my sink, never tried that one before.
I do put it on the bottom of the veggie crisper, always helps if something leaks.
Am not sure if I would want to use it as fuel in the fireplace though as the inks likely have a lot of chemicals in it.
So many different uses can be applied, delightful!
All great tips, especially the fridge & shelter ones.
I also use newspaper to cover forniture's upper sides (above the closet, for instance) and high shelves, so the dust remains on the newspaper which I change after some time, and it is easier to keep them clean.
Learning how to re-use or re-purposes items like that of paper, plastic as well as electronic devices is one way of setting a good example to others with regards to waste reduction. There are so many things that we can still put into good use and these include paper products of which some can be properly disposed by Dallas shredding companies while other items can be turned to recycling facilities. You can even make paper crafts at home if you have the time.
Learning how to re-use or re-purposes items like that of paper, plastic as well as electronic devices is one way of setting a good example to others with regards to waste reduction. There are so many things that we can still put into good use and these include paper products of which some can be properly disposed by Dallas shredding companies while other items can be turned to recycling facilities. You can even make paper crafts at home if you have the time.
cool ideas-thanks
Great tips.
I find that newspapers work great for wet shoes. Just crumple them up and stuff them in a pair of running shoes and the newspaper will absorb excess water, leaving shoes dry in a few hours.
thanks
Awesome ideas! I especially like the suggestion to use in the fridge to line the veggie/fruit drawers, to ripen fruit (I'd heard of the paper bag, but not the newspaper), to polish stainless sink, and to donate to the animal shelter for cage liners.
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