What to Do With Old Paper Goods

It’s easy to accumulate lots of paper waste, especially if you’re a reader like me! I have stacks and stacks of books and magazines I keep in my room for “future reference.” That’s my excuse, anyway. In reality, I’m something of a pack rat. I hate the thought of a book not having a good home! If you’re like me and have tons of useless paper goods lying around, you can get overwhelmed by them and toss them in the trash. Don’t! There are loads of productive things you can do with old paper goods that are far better than them eventually landing in a landfill. Here’s what you can do with all of your old books and magazines!

The simplest thing to do is donate your books. There are loads of people who probably don’t have the money to purchase lots of books, and that’s really sad. You can change that, though! Grab all of your books and head to your local library. You could donate to a Goodwill or Salvation Army, but eventually, those donations will end up in someone else’s trash – and we aim to prevent that! Donating to the library ensures that the books are used, go to a great cause, and stay out of the trash can!

You can also join PaperBack BookSwap. I’m a member myself, and love the site! Head over to sign up! The website is basically a big bartering tool for book lovers. Posting books to swap gains you points to have others’ books mailed to your house, free of charge! It’s a neat way to get free reading material and reuse your old novels.

Your old magazines are probably destined for the recycling bin. Many local school and charities have recycling stations available, and school-sponsored ones are open during the summer. If you have an extensive collection like I do (it’s alphabetized by shelf and month of issue), then you can always post your collection on Craigslist or local classifieds. Chances are that some fashionista might want them for inspiration!

Of course, books can also be used for crafting and decoration! Stacks of tattered, old books look really interesting placed on mantels, chairs, and even on the floor. You can use the pages to make cute vintage printed pages like the ones found here, or to make paper flowers, cards, and other cute paper crafts!

Please, don’t let your old books and magazines go to waste! Keep them out of landfills and put them to good use, no matter their age. There’s no excuse not to find a new home for them with all of these handy tips!