William Page

Between newspapers, bags and the various other packaging in it's not unusual for the average home to end up with a large supply of excess waste paper. Most of this will end up in the bin or will at least make it to recycling. However, there are many ways you can use this paper around the home before you simply throw it out, and you might even save a bit of money in the process.

The first way to use up your excess paper is with simple household cleaning. You can use bunched-up newspaper to mop up spills to save money on disposable towels. Newspaper combined with glass cleaner is perfect for cleaning glass tables and windows, particularly the outsides. You can even through some on the bench before preparing dinner to make clean up faster and easier.

On a similar note to the last one newspaper has excellent smell absorbency. Use it to line your vegetable drawers, fruit baskets and cupboards. Replace them every month or so and they will continue to fight odors and prevent the bottom of your drawers from getting messy.

Cut up into little pieces, printed-on scrap can make for a great way to take down information. Use pieces that have only been printed on one side or ones that have some clean space. You could even put a thin line of glue along one edge and make your own stack of sticky notes.

Paper is an essential ingredient in making your own organic garden compost, and it is a great way to use up a lot of your waste. You also get a great return for your effort both in savings on buying compost and in plant produce. To make your own compost mix 50% brown waste (not glossy magazines) and 50% plant matter such as food scraps and garden cuttings. Pile it under a tarp or in a barrel and aerate it every now and again.

Alternatively, you could have a fun day of paper craft with your kids. Create your own origami, mache projects or scrapbooks with all of your old magazines and newspapers. You could also try taking any excess to a local child care facility as they are often in need of craft supplies.

Bunched up newspaper has another handy use with leather shoes. Just like when you first buy your shoes bunch up some and stuff the toes with it. This padding will help the shoes to maintain their shape during storage and it will also help to absorb residual foot odors.

If you cannot find any other uses for all of your waste paper then you could use it to start your fireplace. Buying chemical firelighters is a huge waste with such a freely available resource handy. In dire times you can even roll up a log very tightly to use in place of firewood if you run out.