Recycling Flower and Kitchen Waste to Make Biodegradable Paper

Paper is one of the most used stationery commodities in the world. To reduce the dependency on timber and forest wood to make paper, there is an urgent need to look for alternative sources. This study aimed to generate biodegradable paper from floral waste. This would help save the environment from deforestation and improper management of garland waste. Dried flowers, boiled potato peels, newspaper shreds, and boiled corn husks were used in the ratio 5:3:2:1, pulp was formed in the grinder. Residual starch water was used as a binding agent. This pulp was spread and dried on a special mesh mold under uniform, moderate pressure. The formed paper was removed carefully and was tested at MSME, Mumbai, India, (as per IS 2617, Millboard, Greyboard & Strawboard), (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt of India), for its GSM (gm/sq mt), thickness, pH, ash content and moisture content. Statistical Analysis Used: Mean and SD. GSM of the paper was found to be 136.397 gm/sq.mt, with a thickness of 0.95mm. The pH of the paper was 6.17, ash content was 3.8% and moisture content was 5.8%. This paper has been categorized as Greyboard quality paper which is a homogenous board made of mixed waste paper with or without screenings and thickness not greater than 1mm. The produced paper was used to manufacture a paper bag. It can be used for pad backing, rigid boxes, cartons (not corrugated), toy packaging, and bookbinding.