Paper Napkins: 10 Ideas for Recycling Them

The ideas for reuse paper napkins There are many more than you might imagine. If you realize you've accumulated a significant amount of them at home, perhaps after a family celebration or dinner with friends, and you don't know what to do with them, don't throw them away but think about what they could become with a little creativity.

Sometimes only partially used, paper napkins contribute to the waste pile, when they could easily be given a new lease of life. A gesture of respect for the environment and your wallet, which is a good thing to teach even the littlest ones.

In addition to recycling them intelligently, perhaps to eliminate excess oils and sauces from pots and pans or, soaked in a little detergent, to clean the oven and refrigerator, you can opt for the creative recycling. 

Table decorations

With paper napkins you can create beautiful table decorations, such as a napkin flower, to display on special occasions. Or slightly more elaborate creations, made by folding them into strips and braiding them together.

Flowers

Along the same lines as the previous idea, paper napkins can also become flowersNot just roses: you can have fun with shapes and colors, and scatter them on the table or give them a metal stem and turn them into a beautiful bouquet to display at home.

Centerpiece

The idea of ​​using the napkin as a beautiful one centerpiece, which is bent to resemble a swan around a glass or candle holder.

Easter Bunny

Or even the Easter bunny, to accompany the dish during Easter lunch. Or use as a place card, perhaps rolled around a hard-boiled egg. It only takes a few folds and very little skill to make.

Garland

Among the ideas for recycling paper napkins we cannot fail to mention the garlandsThis one is made up of identical paper flowers in a single color. But there's nothing stopping you from creating flowers in different shapes and colors for a decidedly more cheerful result.

Quadro

Even a wall of your house becomes more beautiful with a picture abstract made with colored napkins and other common materials. In this case pieces of paper, flowers, bark and dry leaves and green.

Wall decorations

Not only paintings, but also decorations Hanging napkins that adorn walls with lightness, uniqueness, and a pop of color. They're especially suitable for brightening up a child's bedroom. Create several small bunches of napkin strips and attach them to a string. That's all there is to it.

Decoupage

Some napkins are so beautiful that you can use them for the decoupage, and thus embellish any object with great taste and a touch of craftsmanship. From plates to wooden crates.

Necklace

You can reuse printed paper napkins to create original jewelry. Like this one. necklace, which is obtained from a base of shooting stars (yes, the Carnival ones), partially covered with a specially cut napkin. Secure everything with a mixture of PVA glue and water and let it dry.

Wedding dress

Finally, would you ever have thought that with recycled paper napkins you could even create a wedding dressA decidedly ambitious project, but one that demonstrates that with a little effort, you can achieve unthinkable results.

Where do you throw away paper napkins?

If you don't want to recycle paper napkins, keep in mind how they should be disposed of and how to properly dispose of them. differentiatedUnless they're parchment paper or wax paper, paper napkins with food residue should always be disposed of in the organic waste bin.

With one exception: if the napkins are colored or decorated, they should be disposed of in the general waste bin. The coloring substances used in paper napkins could damage the composting process, unlike white paper napkins, which pose no problems and should therefore be disposed of in the organic waste bin.

Where do you throw away paper tissues?

A common mistake is throwing away the tissues we use to blow our noses with the other paper towels and tissues. This is a mistake. They go in the general waste bin.

Read also:

• How to reduce paper napkin waste
• How to recycle cloth napkins
• Tissue Paper Recycling: 10 Useful Ideas

Opening photo by Matheus Andrade via Pexels