Hello again, savvy savers! For this weeks Greener Living Post, I want to explore an oldie-but-a-goodie, in terms of Greener Living, and that is simple, effective ways to recycled newspaper!
Did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,000 kilowatts of energy-enough to power the average U.S. home for six months-and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE). What’s more staggering is the fact that the average American family discards one-quarter ton of paper per year!
So, today I wanted to post about several creative ways to reduce this recycling dilemma is to find creative, eco-friend, budget-savvy ways to reuse newspaper:
- Use Newspaper to clean windows or glass. Use crumpled newspaper, dipped into water mixed with a splash of white vinegar, and clean those windows up without any streaks or harmful chemicals!
- Burn it! Use newspaper instead of a starter log in the fireplace, fire-pit, chiminea, or at a bonfire.
- Make a weed barrier. If you’re building a raised flower bed, lay out pieces of newspaper, six to eight layers deep, before you fill it up with dirt. The paper will help keep weeds from invading.
- As origami paper. Cut your newspaper into squares and get folding!
- Use Newspaper in the fridge. Keep the bottom of the veggie drawer to absorb liquid and odors.
- For ripening fruit. If you’ve picked up some under-ripe peaches, avocados, or other fruit, at the market on sale, then be sure to wrap them in newspaper to ripen them more quickly.
- Shine on, domestic goddess. Give the shine back to your stainless steel sink by gently scrubbing it with wadded up, wet newspaper weekly.
- Compost it. Newspaper makes great bedding for a worm bin, as well as a substitute for brown layers in traditional compost bins, when saturated.
- Papier mache. You can make all sorts of fun paper mache projects, like a piñata!
- Donate them. Your local animal shelter can use newspapers to line their cages. Some even shred them up to use as kitty litter, can be used in a pinch; also consider using them in your pet creates at home!
So savvy savers, that’s my list for fun, creative ways to reuse recycled newspaper products in the home! I hope this inspires you all to think outside of the box, in terms of helping to reduce your families carbon footprint, one newspaper at a time!
Here’s to greener living!
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