Paper bags by folding and stapling newspapers to dispose of food scraps in green bins for composting

Not for kids.
Key words: Paper bags, newspapers, green bins, disposal, food scraps, kitchen waste, stapler, stapling, folds, folding, environmentally friendly, compost, egg carton, papier-mâché

Over one year of experience with making my own paper bags for kitchen waste disposal has proven that old newspapers may be useful irrespective of what kind of news they had contained. Nothing can be more simple in the making of a large paper bag than this procedure.

Materials:
Large double-page newspaper sheets, single sheets, office stapler.
Additional - optional: Paper scraps, egg carton made from recycled paper or papier-mâché.

1. Lay two double sheets on top of each other.
2. Fold about 5 cm strip at the part near you and smoothen it to lay flat with the sheets.
3. Close the double sheet by folding the right half over the left half. The 5 cm strip is now inside the sheets to strengthen the bottom of the bag,
4. Make another fold upwards and down at the bottom of about 3 cm and staple it with 5-6 staples.
5. Turn the newspaper anti-clockwise to make the long side to face you. The last staple is in what is now the right lower corner.
6. Make a fold on the long side of the paper pile, about 3 cm and press it down.
7. Staple the fold with 5-6 staples.
8. The bag has been made. Open it to make sure that it has a double wall all around.
9. Take a single newspaper sheet, crumple it well and insert into the bag by pushing it to the bottom. Its purpose is to absorb moisture from the kitchen waste. Other absorbent material may be used, e.g., parts of an egg carton made from recycled paper or papier-mâché.

The bags are 47 cm (18.5”) tall. They fit well in some plastic kitchen containers. Use them for kitchen scraps and when full, place them in a green bin. They decompose with the other organic waste. Please, do not worry that the metal staples will prick the earthworms in the compost. They will rust, decompose, and enrich the compost with iron.

A picture of green bins has been used with thanks from the public domain images:

Do you like this suggestion to make your own paper bags? Thank you.

Scimat-micro,