Paper recycling workshop fails to attrack attention

Paper recycling workshop fails to attrack attention

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Children's favorite uses for a sheet of paper
include drawing, to write on or for folding into a paper
aircraft. Bored with these activities, they often just scrunch it
up and throw it away, unaware they could use the paper once again
after it is recycled.

Helping children learn about the advantages of used paper is
the main intention of a workshop on paper recycling for children
at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (The Jakarta Playhouse). The
program, which took place on Aug. 16 and will be held again
tomorrow, is part of the Children's Arts Festival.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned in the first
session. Only a few children attended the workshop as many
preferred to watch the children's drama, Menonjok Hantu (Punching
The Ghost) by Bella Studio, which was staged half an hour earlier
than the workshop at the same venue.

Most of those who did attend only watched the paper recycling
process during the 10-minute break in the drama.

The workshop also failed to explain to the children why paper
needed to be recycled, or provide detailed information on paper
recycling itself.

"What's paper recycling?" whispered a girl to her friend while
watching the recycling process.

The girl ran her fingers along a beautiful frame, displayed
along with colorful envelopes, diaries and notebooks, without
knowing that they were all made from recycled paper.

Paper recycling has an important role in protecting the
country's forests, the supplier of the majority of raw materials
to manufacture paper.

As there is an increase in the amount of paper we use, there
is a fear that one day forests will disappear and this will bring
disaster to humankind. Forests, which have a crucial role in
protecting environment from further degradation, also face
pressure from commercial interests.

If these explanations were too serious for children, at least
the organizers could have informed the children about the need to
reduce paper consumption and, simultaneously, ease pressure on
the forests.

For instance, children can be taught to save paper by using
both sides of the sheet.

An organizer, Jaby Philippi, blamed rumors of renewed riots as
one of the reasons which kept parents from bringing their
children to the festival.

"There's a rumor that this place and its surroundings are not
safe...," she said, referring to widespread stories that riots
would break out sometime before and during the celebration of the
country's 53rd independence anniversary on Aug. 17.

The eight-day Children's Arts Festival ends tomorrow, with
another workshop at 10 a.m. on the closing day.

Apart from the workshop, the festival also featured a display
of drawings, bazaar and games for children and 12 art
performances, including Balinese, Malay and Sundanese dances and
a couple of musical and ballet performances.

Jaby said the workshop on paper recycling was intended to
raise children's awareness of the need to protect the
environment.

"By learning about paper recycling, children are expected to
take care of what they have and understand the advantage of used
paper."

Problem is that children need to show up to get the noble
message.

Even though the workshop was geared to kids, there were more
adults who happened to be around who showed interest in the
workshop. They asked questions and watched every step of the
recycling process.

The recycling process itself is not difficult.

S. Salam and his employees from Kedai Daur Ulang (Recycling
Shop), explained to the grown-ups that almost any kind of paper
can be recycled provided it has not been densely printed on, such
as newspaper.

Used paper for recycling can be grouped by basic color, he
said, added that it was also possible to recycle papers of
various colors. Results will be different from the original ones
and have lower quality. For instance, recycling photocopy paper
results in a blue tinge.

Apart from plenty of used paper and lots of water, the
hardware needed to recycle paper is a blender, a printing screen
with the frame, wood board, water-absorbent cloth and a large
tub.

Salam said that one should first tear up used paper into small
pieces and soak them overnight in water.

Then fill the blender three quarters full with clean water,
add a handful of soaked paper and blend until it becomes pulp.
Follow this by filling the tub with clean water, pour the pulp in
and stir the mixture to distribute the pulp evenly in the water.

Hold the screen with the frame and dip it into the tub until
it is fully immersed, simultaneously moving the screen to
distribute the pulp evenly and then lifting the screen out of the
water and waiting until the water drains off.

Afterward, place the screen on the wooden board and dry the
other side of the screen with a piece of cloth before lifting the
screen gently, leaving the pulp mixture in the board. It will
take at least an hour for the screen to dry.