Preserving Paper for the Environment

What To Do

Introduction

Discuss with the educator beforehand to assess participant’s prior knowledge and adjust the introduction accordingly.

Note: This workshop discusses options of reducing waste that may not be available in all areas and communities. It is important to research what options are available to participants before facilitating this workshop. It is okay to discuss options that are available in other areas, but it is important to acknowledge the differences and adjust the workshop to highlight what actions they can take to limit eco-anxiety.

• Discuss the impact that landfills have on the environment.
• Discuss what happens to the waste at a landfill.
• Explain how landfills contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Activity 1: The 6 R’s of Sustainability

What to do

• Separate participants into groups of 2 or 3. Give each group a task card and each group a worksheet or large note paper.
• Each group is tasked with designing a poster that will let the rest of the school/community know about the importance of reducing our waste. Each poster should include/mention:
  • At least ONE impact that landfills have on the environment (such as habitat loss, greenhouse gas emissions, toxic waste, climate change, harm to animals, etc.)
  • The 6 R’s of Sustainability (Rethink, Repair, Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle)
  • At least ONE action item / idea on how people can live more sustainably.
• Encourage participants to be creative in their action items! Have them think about all the different types of waste that we produce and decide to tackle one area. They can include an idea that already exists (such as one discussed in today’s workshop) or think of something we could start doing!
  • Optional: if participants finish their posters early or before everyone has had a chance to do “Activity 2: Paper Recycling”, have participants work on the following reflective exercise “Here’s What!... So What?... Now What?”.

Activity 2: Paper Recycling

What to do

Pre-Activity Prep

• Attach the window screening to the wood frame or old picture frame using staples or tacks.
• Create a sample of the “new” paper to be used as an example.
• Create liquid starch (optional):
  • Boil 3.5 cups of water.
  • On the side, add ½ cup of water to 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix well.
  • Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the boiling water.
  • Allow it to cool and place in a watertight container.

Activity Management Notes

This workshop runs best with a minimum of three volunteers:

• One volunteer should be in charge of the blender and helping participants make the pulp.
• One volunteer should help participants strain and flatten the pulp to make paper.
• One volunteer should be available to work with the remaining participants on their poster and answer any questions.

Instructions

• Set up the basin/tub near the sink or on a table with lots of space around (for participants to gather and watch the process).
• Tear all the scrap paper into small pieces.
• The pulp will need to be made in batches.
  • One volunteer can help participants make their pulp while the other helps participants with the screen.
• Add some scrap paper to a blender with warm water and some liquid starch. Pulse the blender until the mixture is the consistency of split pea soup (you may have to add more paper or water).
• Place the screen into the basin.
• Pour the pulp into the tub on top of the screen and move it around until the pulp is evenly spread.
• Gently lift the screen out of the basin and allow it to drain for a minute.
• Place the screen on top of a piece of newspaper. Add a piece of cloth on top of the pulp and newspaper over that.
• Use the rolling pin to flatten the pulp that is sandwiched between the cloth and newspaper.
• Take off the top newspaper and flip the screen (with the piece of cloth) attached very carefully.
• Place the screen on top of a few new pieces of newspaper and carefully peel the piece of cloth with the pulp on top the newspaper (pulp side up).
• Add another piece of cloth on top of the pulp, along with another few pieces of newspaper.
• Leave your paper to dry for approximately 12-24 hours. Weigh the paper down with a heavy book to make sure the paper dries flat (optional).
• Once dry, carefully remove the layers of newspaper and peel the cloth to reveal the new paper!

Note: do not pour leftover pulp down the drain! Add left-over to pulp to a compost bin if available. If not, pour it in the garbage bin. Make small batches of pulp to limit the amount of waste at the end.

Wrap-Up

• Discuss how today’s activity connects to how paper is actually recycled (see What’s Happening).
• Review the impact that landfills have on the environment and how they contribute to climate change.
• Discuss the environmental benefits of recycling paper?
  • Trees are really important for the environment because they are carbon sinks.
• What else can we do to help reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere?
  • Note: It is important to be conscious of your audience and consider that not all youth have the same options available to choose (i.e. rural students may not have access to public transit, food availability and choices are not always equal). Allow youth to come up with their own ideas instead of directing them on what to do.
• Optional: For older audiences, separate participants into groups and have them think of ways they can reduce or reuse the waste they produce at school. If there is enough time, have the groups share their answers and as a class come up with some steps to meet their goals.
• Discuss possible careers related to the topics discusses in today’s workshop and what participants will need (schooling, experience, etc.) to get into those careers.