You can also make recycled paper at home by making pulp what you no longer need and then letting it dry. "Recycling" is nothing more than the simple act of modifying an object and assigning it to another use to avoid throwing it away. It is very likely that you already have all the materials you need and know that the process is easier than you can imagine!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Mash the Paper
Step 1. Collect the used paper
The texture and color of the old paper will directly affect the quality of the "finished" recycled paper. You can use printer or copier sheets, newspapers, (clean) paper handkerchiefs and napkins, wrapping paper, brown bags, notebook sheets and even old envelopes. Remember that the material will shrink and contract during soaking and drying, so you need to use more waste paper than you want to produce.
- As a general rule, know that 4-5 sheets of newspaper allow you to get two small sheets of recycled paper. However, this proportion varies according to the thickness of the paper you reduce to pulp.
- If you want to obtain plain colored "neutral" sheets, choose wisely the waste paper to use. For example, if you mostly use white paper, the final product will look very similar to regular printer paper.
Step 2. Tear off the paper
Reduce the material into small pieces of equal size; the smaller the fragments, the better the final result. If the pieces are large, you will get a lumpy and uneven mush. Try putting the papers in a "paper shredder" and then tearing the pieces into even smaller pieces.
Step 3. Soak the paper
Transfer any torn pieces to a plate or saucepan and fill the container with boiling water. Stir the mixture to make sure all of the paper is well soaked. Let it rest for a few hours, stirring occasionally.
After a few hours, consider adding a few tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken the consistency. This step isn't mandatory, although some paper recycling experts swear by its effectiveness. If you decide to follow this advice, mix the starch into the mixture thoroughly and then add a little more boiling water to help it dissolve
Step 4. Blend the wet paper
After a few hours, put two or three handfuls of the mixture in the blender. Fill the glass of the appliance halfway with water and activate the blades in short pulses to chop the paper and make it a pulp. When the paper is ready, it will have a soft texture similar to oatmeal.
If you don't have a blender, then it may be enough to tear the paper and soak it. However, if you turn it to mush with the appliance, you will get a smoother finished product
Part 2 of 3: Filtering the Paper
Step 1. Get a network panel
You need this tool to filter the wet mash and separate the water from the paper lumps. When the compound gradually dries on the panel, it congeals and turns into recycled paper. It is important that the dimensions of the panel coincide with those of the sheet you want to make. A 20 x 30 cm piece of mosquito net is the ideal tool, but you can use one as large as you want.
- Try to create a border around the panel to hold the mush. A wooden picture or photo frame may be for you, but you can also glue or staple wooden rods around the panel to create your own "frame".
- If the panel is made of metal, make sure it does not tend to rust, otherwise it will leave stains on the paper.
Step 2. Fill a saucepan with the mush
You can use a large, shallow pan, baking dish, or bucket, about 10 to 15 cm deep. Pour the mixture into the pan, filling it almost completely, but not too much to avoid splashing when you pour the mash onto the panel.
Step 3. Insert the piece of mosquito net into the pan
Slide it to the bottom of the container so that it stays below the level of the mixture. Gently shake the screen back and forth to break up any lumps in the mush. At this point you can lift it vertically, by doing so the mixture should spread out creating a thin and even layer on the surface.
Alternatively, you can put the panel on the bottom of the container before adding the mixture of water and paper. Then pour the mush; when you lift the panel, you will separate the paper from the water
Step 4. Lay the panel on a towel to drain excess water
Make sure the side of the panel with the paper layer is facing up. The filtration process has not eliminated all the moisture present and the mush will need at least another hour to drain completely. Wait for it to dry without disturbing it.
Part 3 of 3: Press the Card
Step 1. Squeeze the paper to get rid of excess water
After an hour has passed, lay a piece of sheet or other thin fabric on top of the paper layer in the panel. Then, with the help of a dry sponge, press firmly on the sheet to remove all the residual liquid. Your goal is to transfer the paper layer from the panel to the fabric. The fabric must be well stretched, clean, dry and wrinkle-free so that it is a suitable "mold" for the sheets of paper.
Step 2. Lift the panel and turn it over
At this point the paper should fall back onto the fabric. Lay it out on a flat surface and let it dry overnight or for a few hours at a minimum. Let the paper rest in a warm, dry place.
Do not attempt to dry it with direct heat or near a very powerful source of heat, otherwise the sheet may wrinkle and dry unevenly
Step 3. Peel the paper off the sheet
When the mush has dried, carefully peel it off the fabric. You should now have a dry, compact and perfectly usable sheet of paper! If you've got a good result, you can use the same equipment to make all the recycled paper you want.
Step 4. Test the sheet
Write on the paper with a pencil or pen to evaluate its quality. Find out if it's absorbent enough, clear enough for you to see the letters, and if it's tough and acceptable as a sheet of paper. If you plan to make more sheets, take notes about this first "batch" so you can improve your production on the next try.
- If the paper is too coarse or rough, you may not have ground the waste paper sufficiently. If it breaks, then you have used too much water to compact the fibers.
- If the color of the paper is too deep (so much so that you can't read the words you write), then you should use more evenly colored waste paper. Next time try to use only white sheets.
Advice
- You can color the paper by adding two or three drops of food coloring to the mash in the blender.
- Iron the paper to dry it faster. Place the sheet between two sheets and then iron it with the hot iron. This will result in smoother and more well-pressed sheets.
