Newspaper recycling?

Question

Which is more eco-friendly: recycling today's newspaper or leave it (such as in a coffee house) for others to read, but not knowing if it will be recycled?

Answer 1

Recycling it is more eco-friendly.

Here's why:

Re-use is green when it keeps something out of the landfill or sends a message to a manufacturer to slow production.

Recycling your paper keeps it out of the landfill. Handing it off might now.

Leaving it to be re-used won't affect the number of papers a newspaper produces, so it doesn't save anything. Maybe a potential paper-buyer won't buy because he finds your paper, but it's not enough of a lump to make the paper drop production. It just means one of the papers on the newstand won't be purchased -- and you have to hope it's recycled.

Here's where you can make a difference with newspaper recycling: Make a deal to share your paper everyday with someone who would otherwise buy it. This affects subscription numbers, which will make the newspaper take notice and print fewer accordingly.

Till then, recycle that paper unless the next user promises you they will.

Answer 2

leave it in a coffee house 4 ppl reading,then recycle it after 3-4 days.

Answer 3

I just put them in the recycling bin now. They do a very good job of separating everything in the bin for me. I have actually been to where they do the separating and recycling. Its a local recycling facility near the trash dump here. You can always ask the person who picks up your recycle bin where their recycling facility is and visit it. They do not mind when you come for a visit, most are actually happy to show you around for free.

Also, when I was a kid we used to shred up newspaper  and stick it in the compost bin. It was a worm composting bin. The worms ate up the paper  and the paper also broke down naturally.

We used the worms for the garden and plants, they helped aerate the soil and eat up bad microbes. The worms were also good for fishing. The worms help save us money. Instead of buying a 3-5 dollar container of worms at the local gas station / convince store near the lake we fished at we use our own worms.

Here is an example of the worm composting bin I had. The only difference is the one I had was made out of old scrap wood we recycled and was slightly larger.

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywo...

Answer 4

Both are good ideas. So what prevents you from leaving it at a coffee house or else where is not knowing whether it will be recycled.  Good thinking. I would suggest speaking to the staff and asking that question... If you frequent this place, then suggest that they keep a newspaper holder or basket where the day's paper can be shared with customers with a note that they put it back when they leave. If you work, take it to work and share it with colleagues. I find that a lot of people would welcome reading the paper when they have a little break. So you could keep it handy near the printer or photocopier.

Answer 5

You could leave it in a coffe house for people to read, with a little sticky note saying "Please recycle me when done! :]" and hopefully that would work! But that's a good idea to leave it in a coffee house.