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Did you know we can save landfill space by recycling paper? We can also save trees by recycling paper. Science Educator Becky Wolfe and her Science Helper MJ show you the science behind recycling paper in this DIY paper project. Grab these items from around the house and get to work!
Materials:
- Blender or egg beater
- Mixing bowl
- A screen
- Shallow 9x13 pan
- Scrap paper or old newspaper
- Pieces of cloth
- Warm water
- Old towels
Process:
- Cover your space with an old towel.
- Tear your paper into tiny pieces.
- Place paper and hot water into mixing bowl. You'll want 2 cups of warm water for every 1/2 cup of shredded paper.
- Allow paper to soak for at least an hour.
- Mix the paper and water mixture until it's the consistency of oatmeal.
- Pour mixture into shallow pan.
- Slide screen into shallow pan. Scoop up the mixture into the screen.
- Pick up the screen out of the pan. Gently press on the pulp mixture, removing as much water as possible.
- Fold a towel and blot as much of the remaining water out as you can.
- Flip over the screen and gently tap the back to remove the pulp.
- Lay the pulp on a towel to dry (approximately 24 hours).
- Once it's dry, you've got paper that you made yourself! You can use it to write a letter, make a card, or create another paper creation.
Share your recycled paper and other Earth Day-related activities with us by using the #TCMatHome hashtag!
