Science Smarts: Let’s get recycling!

By PATTY ROOKS on August 13, 2021.

I made a well overdue trip to the recycling centre today which of course, got me thinking about this week’s article! In order to narrow things down even more, my helpers were asking a ton of questions such as “Why do you recycle, this is so much work?!”, and “How do they actually use these materials?” Well, this week, you can dive into the process of recycling your own paper!

Let’s get started!

Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– Several sheets of newspaper

– Blender or food processor

– Water

– Sink or large cake pan

– Old pair of nylons

– Metal coat hanger(s)

– Electric iron

– Food colouring

– Tape

– Scissors

– Measuring cups

– Package of fall flower seeds (optional)

Making the paper frame

1. Undo the coat hanger and pull to straighten it out. Be careful you do not cut yourself.

2. Bend the wire into a square frame (if you wish). Use your imagination – paper does not necessarily need to be square – or perhaps make a bookmark shape?!

3. Tape the ends of the wire together so your frame stays in place. Be sure you cover any sharp ends with tape, otherwise, you, may mess up the next step.

4. Cut one of the legs of the nylons off.

5. Carefully stretch the leg of the nylon over the metal frame. Be careful you do not rip the nylons.

6. Pull the nylons tight and tie a knot in each end.

7. If you wish, repeat to make more than one frame.

Making Paper

1. Rip several sheets of newspaper into small strips.

2. Measure 125 mL (1/2 cup) of tightly packed newspaper strips.

3. Place these strips into the blender.

4. Add 300 mL (1 ¼ cups) of water to the paper.

5. Blend until smooth.

6. Continue to add more newspaper until the mixture is thick and smooth.

7. Colour the paper by adding a couple of drops of food colouring.

8. Blend well.

9. Place the screen in the cake pan or sink.

10. Pour 500 mL (2 cups) water into the pan.

11. Pour approximately half of the pulp mixture from the blender onto the screen you made.

12. Smooth the mixture out with your hands.

13. You can add some flower seeds in this step and then cut them up and plant them in your garden for some beautiful fall flowers. Just sprinkle them all over and gently push into the paper pulp.

14. Carefully lift the screen out of the pan.

15. Place on several sheets of newspaper to dry.

16. Repeat using more screens.

17. Once the paper is dry, peel the screen away.

18. If it is too wrinkled, you can iron it flat.

19. Make a notebook out of all the paper you made.

Discussion

The method you used here is similar to how factories recycle paper. At large factories, paper is also shredded and mashed into pulp. This pulp is then used to make different paper products. Did you know that for approximately every 50 kg (110 lbs) of paper recycled, one tree is saved?

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403.527.5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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