Ways to dispose of The Lamron after reading
The Lamron is a work of art, but what do you do with it once you have finished reading? Never fear, I have some solutions to this age-old problem.
Composting tops the list for the best method to dispose of newspapers. It is a process of combining things such as food scraps, paper, cardboard, lawn scraps, etc., methodically in an environment that allows microbes to break down the matter efficiently. Once broken into organic parts, compost can be used as a soil fertilizer. Most commonly placed on undisturbed land, compost is helpful in no-till farming, allowing growers to fertilize and plant over vegetation at the same time. Utilizing this method, The Lamron would be shredded—after reading of course—and mixed into a compost pile to break down. Another option is to lay the newspaper flat over vegetation from the previous growing season. The newspaper can then be watered, and compost may be placed on top of the newspaper. This application allows underlying soil to remain undisturbed and makes planting seeds more convenient.
If you do not have a garden to compost The Lamron, you may compost it on campus in one of the many designated composting bins. Anything composted here will be used in the eGarden! Green compost bins can be found in most residence buildings, as well as a bin in the Union lobby. Near the eGarden, you can find the campus compost pile—it is a large mound of nutrient-rich dirt that is hard to miss.
Some gardeners are wary of composting newspapers due to coloring and potential chemical treatment of the paper. It is widely agreed that risk from this is minimal, however, as microbes in the soil would break down what little chemicals are used in the process. The Lamron is also printed using soy-based ink, meaning it will break down into organic matter more readily, and with less chemical contamination.
The next-best method of disposing of The Lamron is by recycling it. This can be done by simply putting it into any paper recycling bin on campus. Make sure to ensure that your copy is clean and dry, as paper is a valuable resource that can be readily recycled when clean, but can ruin other paper in the bin if wet or dirty.
Another method of disposing of The Lamron is by reusing it. Newspapers can be made into art like papier-mâché, a collage, or mosaic. It can be laid down when painting to prevent paint on furniture or the floor. It can also be used to wrap presents and flowers, for kindling a bonfire, packing glass items, or starting seedlings! The possibilities for The Lamron are endless.
The last, and most definitely the worst method of disposal of The Lamron,is tossing it in the trash. This method takes away any future use of the paper and is highly discouraged. Newspapers have a purpose in a compost bin, art project, recycling bin, garden, or even a bonfire. Paper is biodegradable, but this does not mean it will break down in a landfill. Materials such as paper are most efficiently and usefully broken down in a compost bin. Let The Lamron live a second life after reading it—don’t throw it out!