Making newspaper bags for composting

[LittleShamrock]

I've been experimenting this morning, making bags from newspaper for holding kitchen waste to be thrown in the composter. I'd been using pritt stick and staples, but am worried that either of those might be harmful to the compost or the creatures living in it, what do you think? Or are there any good origami instructions out there for making a suitable box or bag?

[sweetiepea]

The Newspaper Bag Project

I thought this was a good example of how to make a bag - without staples (wouldn't want them in my compost!), but instead of glue I'd use the water and flour paste suggestion. I've used it in the past for little projects with DS and it worked for reasonable weights.

[Bren In Pots]

I wrap mine 'chip shop style' I suppose its bit like a parcel.

[Two_Sheds]

chippy parcels for me too (they go inside a carrier bag to be taken up to lotty)

[elsie-scot]

I just wrap kitchen waste, grass clippings but look up oragami bags - loads on the net.

This is quite a good bin liner (no lid) - YouTube - Origami Bin Bag

A doggy poo bag, with handles - How to origami a paper doggy bag | Video « Wonder How To

[LittleShamrock]

I wrap mine 'chip shop style' I suppose its bit like a parcel.

I tried this today, it worked well, except i don't really have the space to lay a whole sheet of newspaper out all day to collect waste - a little bag is handier

Thank you sweetiepee! I had looked up origami patterns (only got through a few) and found instructions for the bag you linked to, except there were no pictures so I got quite lost! glue and water will be perfect too

[Suky]

chippy parcels for me too (they go inside a carrier bag to be taken up to lotty)

Apparently it is illegal to transport food waste from home to allotment since the last foot and mouth outbreak No, it won't stop me either

[Bren In Pots]

I tried this today, it worked well, except i don't really have the space to lay a whole sheet of newspaper out all day to collect waste - a little bag is handier

After mines wrapped up the parcels go in my bucket with lid thingie, then that gets emptied in the compost bin once its full.

[Flytrap]

You can buy stapleless staplers. They bind sheets of paper together just like a traditional stapler but don't use metal staples. It works by somehow using the paper itself to 'stitch' the sheets together. I've not actually used one but they seem to be just a couple of pounds to buy. Do a Google search for 'stapleless stapler' and there are lots of alternatives.

[Two_Sheds]

i don't really have the space to lay a whole sheet of newspaper out all day to collect waste

Neither do I. I just lay out the newspaper as I am chopping stuff up. When I've finished chopping, I put the newspaper parcel in the carrier bag.
If I then have more chopping to do, I start a new parcel...

Apparently it is illegal to transport food waste from home to allotment

I think the jury is out on that one
As a vegetarian I am "above the law" anyhoo (in that my kitchen peelings don't come into contact with any meat products, so are no risk)

[pipscariad]

You can buy stapleless staplers. They bind sheets of paper together just like a traditional stapler but don't use metal staples. It works by somehow using the paper itself to 'stitch' the sheets together. I've not actually used one but they seem to be just a couple of pounds to buy. Do a Google search for 'stapleless stapler' and there are lots of alternatives.

Used one of these at work a few years ago, and they're great - no idea why they haven't caught on more. In fact, I must get one for use at home - hardly ever use staples, but be nice not to at all. They kind of bend the paper back on itself in a couple of tiny places, so prob not as strong as the metal type, but does the job.

Btw, I line the inside of my compost caddy with a few sheets of newspaper and tip the whole lot in the Dalek. Works fine except for all of the wettest stuff.

[LittleShamrock]

The flour and water paste worked really well, I got 6 bags made and now i seem to have got the knack so any more will go much faster! Very handy for just chucking teabags and stuff in as I go, and DH can throw them in the dalek when he gets home (I can't lift the lid off it because i'm afraid of slugs, and my oh my are they huge in there!!)

Those stapleless staplers sound good, I've heard of them before, but I have somehow accumulated at least 3 regular staplers and boxes of staples...I don't know how, I've never had a use for them!