Do you have a stack of old magazines lying around your house?
Mrs. M’s stack is getting so tall it’s becoming a hazard for air traffic!
As much as she’s tried to get into digital magazine subscriptions, she just loves the feel and smell of traditional magazines.
Not ideal. But we can certainly do our best to ensure that end-of-life disposal is as sustainable as possible.
Over the years, the Miller household has become experts on how to recycle old magazines.
And it doesn’t stop at just recycling. Mrs. M and the girls have also devised ingenious ways to reuse and upcycle old glossy pages.
Read on for the Miller magazine masterclass!
Contents
The first thing to consider is the material used to create the magazine.
Most magazines are printed on paper, and most of that paper is made from virgin fibers (wood pulp).
As well as virgin fiber, some brands also use recycled paper fibers (newspaper or office paper, for example) mixed with pure fibers to create the desired effect. This helps reduce the environmental impact of producing the recycled magazine, as it uses less virgin wood pulp.
Paper towels and paper plates are often recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable. The same must apply to the paper used in magazines, right?
Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that.
Due to the chemicals and coatings added to magazine paper to make it glossy and hardwearing, recycling is not always a simple task.
Some recycling centers will accept old magazines for commercial recycling.
However, it’s always best to contact your local authority to double-check what you need to do, as the rules vary from state to state.
You can place most modern magazines in your ’mixed paper’ recycling box.
Here are a few ways to ensure your magazines are 100% ready for recycling.
Some glossy magazines use polyethylene (a type of plastic) to get the desired sheen on their pages. You cannot recycle these properly.
However, some use natural resins to achieve the same effect.
You can check which one you have in the following ways:
Remove any free samples of lotion or perfume that might be stuck within the magazine’s pages.
Also, remove any outer plastic coating and stickers/shipping labels.
If you can’t recycle your magazine, don’t simply toss it in the trash. There are many ways to put it to good use.
Eco-friendly wrapping paper is a sustainable alternative to mass-produced products that rely heavily on virgin wood pulp.
Take your sustainability to the next level and wrap gifts in old magazines. You can even select a page that’s personal to the gift recipient.
You can also ditch the mailers by wrapping parcels in old magazines. Saving trees and a few bucks at the same time. Win-Win!
Many nonprofit organizations are happy to accept recycled magazine donations.
This is a great way to save unwanted magazines from landfill and put them in the hands of those who benefit from them.
Some of our favorite places to donate books and magazines include:
Make a recycled magazine collage with your kids by cutting out images and text from old issues.
Once done, you can use this as decoration for their bedrooms or put it up on the fridge door!
If there are particular issues of magazines that have been kept because they were especially interesting, consider collecting them and making a scrapbook of your favorite articles over the years.
Take your collage skills to the next level and make framed pieces of art using your favorite magazine pictures and your creativity.
Your own designs can complement your other sustainable wall decorations and create a truly unique look for your home.
Looking for unique holiday gifts or festive decorations for your home?
This YouTube video shows you how to turn old magazines into Christmas trees!
Decoupage is a great way to upcycle and personalize everyday items, such as furniture or picture frames.
For example, glue old magazine pages onto an object of your choice, then seal it with clear zero-VOC paint for long-lasting results.
You can even make your own non-toxic glue with the following household basics:
And four simple steps:
Some magazines are worth a pretty penny.
For example, a first issue of Playboy sold for $2,700 in 2007 (and is now believed to be worth tens of thousands).
You’re unlikely to have rare first editions in your cellar or loft space…but it might be worth a check!
Some of the more collectible publications include:
Magazines published before 2000 are often more valuable.
Find anything pre-1975, and you’ve got a good chance of it being worth a few bucks.
Magazines in mint condition (ideally still in their original plastic wrap) fetch the best prices.
Contact a reputable local expert for advice and guidance if you have unearthed a rare magazine.
The tips above are our favorite ways to reuse old magazines that we can’t recycle, but it doesn’t stop there!
The list is endless and only limited by your imagination and creativity.
Some of the more ’leftfield’ things we’ve tried in the past include:
The chemicals in the ink and page coating are likely to upset the delicate balance of your compost heap, so it’s best not to. However, a small amount of shredded magazine that you know has been printed on unbleached paper and with non-toxic inks should be acceptable. Add plastic-free tea bags, coffee grounds, or coffee filters to help the bacteria break down the magazine paper.
No. Burning paper (including magazines) is usually not the best idea.
It’s estimated that around 350 million magazines are printed annually in the U.S., and only approximately 20% are recycled.
That number simply has to change.
With a bit of prep work, most magazines should be fine to be recycled in some form or another.
If not, engage your creativity and find alternative uses that keep them out of landfill for as long as possible.
How do you recycle magazines? Does your local recycling center allow you to add recycled magazines to your mixed paper curbside recycle bin?
Or do you have to be more creative with DIY projects? Do you have any killer upcycling ideas to share? Drop me a line and let me know.
