Report on 'Use Your Own Paper' Project

On the 20^th of August, 2010, a short general meeting was held to brief the members on the latest updates. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1.30pm, which was when Leos and students went to the pavilion of SMK Assunta to participate in an environmental friendly project. The project is called “Use Your Own Paper” and it was organized by Leo Vern Gin. The aim of the project is not only to recycle old newspapers without going through factory processes, but also to raise awareness among the students about the importance of recycling old newspapers.

A few items were prepared; they were hairdryers, basins that are half filled with newspaper pulp, a few sieves, a few pieces of cardboards and sponges. With all these items, the Health Environmental Director of Leo Club of SMK Assunta, Leo Eva Chen did a simple demonstration on the field on how to recycle old newspapers and therefore renewing them into a new piece of paper.

1. First off, immerse your sieve into the basin of pulp and water. Make sure you get pulp onto the sieve.

2. Secondly, shake your sieve gently to make sure your sieve is covered with an even and THIN layer of pulp.

3. Thirdly, raise your sieve; you now have a thin and even layer of pulp. Use a piece of cardboard to press out excessive water from the pulp. Then, use a sponge to absorb the remaining water from the pulp gently.

4. Once you are sure that the layer of pulp is reasonably dry, tilt it over carefully along with the cardboard, the layer of pulp should now be on your cardboard. In a VERY slow and gentle motion, carefully remove the sieve to ensure that the layer of pulp does not attach to the net while you’re removing it.

5. Use a hairdryer to blow dry the layer of pulp.

6. Before the layer of pulp dries up completely, once again carefully peel off the layer of pulp. Make sure the damped pulp is still attached in one piece without any holes or dents.

7. Finally, flip it over and dry the other side of the piece of pulp. Repeat the drying process twice and you should now have a dry and new piece of paper.

Everyone took turns to make their own new piece of paper. The whole process including the drying process took about an hour. Once everyone was done, they gathered at the pavilion once again and were told to decorate their new pieces of handmade paper.Though the paper quality may not be as good as factory processed papers, it is still writable and not to mention unique, we even made one for Lion Ivan as a souvenir from us! The project ended at approximately 3.30pm and everyone took a group photo before leaving.

Overall, this project was rather successful and no doubt environmental friendly. And it was definitely not as dirty as it sounds and looks. We had fun recycling old newspapers and to bond with one another.

ARE YOU CAPABLE OF DOING THAT???

Prepared by,
Leo Vern Gin