Recycled materials that you can turn into handmade paper
Recycling paper waste for hand papermaking
Ever wonder about turning scrap paper into handmade papers? If you start looking around, you probably will notice a bunch of paper lying about—that you could use for recycled papermaking. These waste papers could look like:
Junk mail and ads that never stop coming.
A ridiculous amount of paper waste at the office.
Tissue paper from a shoebox or gift bag that you don’t want to throw away.
Magazines.
Paper bag grocery bags.
Amazon cardboard boxes.
Old cards.
Old journals.
Drawings or paintings on paper that should never see the light of day.
Once you start looking, paper pops-out everywhere. Really, it’s incredible how much paper we collectively consume.
Story time:
My partner used to work for a trash-to-energy facility, and I got a backstage tour which, like a giant nerd, I was ecstatic about. It was really something to see a 30 foot tall mountain of trash (I swear I saw a rat the size of a small dog too, eesh), and more arriving in dump trucks.
Sublime isn’t quite the word to describe the feeling…maybe overwhelming? Stupefying? Staggering?
The good news is that scrap waste paper can also be fuel for a little creativity and joy, if you have a spare afternoon or weekend to make some handmade paper.
Using a blender to turn waste paper scraps into paper pulp for homemade paper
Here’s the deal though.
Technically, you can make recycled paper out of almost any paper. However, the quality of your handmade paper will vary WIDELY depending on your material choice. And the characteristics of your handmade paper will reflect the qualities of the scrap paper material.
For example, think about tissue wrapping paper—it’s weak, easy to tear, and kind of fluffy. Which is exactly what your handmade paper will be as well. This can be a problem if you want to do things like calligraphy, origami, or bookbinding with your handmade paper, but also not a problem if you’re making paper for the fun of it and need some color, making paper with children, or making simple sheets for cards, scrapbooking, or collage.
Recycled papermaking usually results in handmade paper can be weaker in strength compared to other handmade papers made from traditional fibers. But you know what? Papermakers have always been good at using up waste materials. And here in North America, paper happens to be wasted
all.
the.
time.
There are volumes and volumes of it.
Making paper from scraps by hand is a wonderful way to bring a little creative soul into your week AND use up readily available, free waste materials.
Handmade papers made from scrap paper waste
Ready to try recycled papermaking?
You’re in luck!
I have a free beginner tutorial that TONS of folks have followed to easily make paper.