By RASHA AL QAHTANI

AN initiative to recycle five tonnes of used paper will begin today at the Al Estiqlal Secondary Girls School, Muharraq.

The 10-day environmental project is being organised by the Bahrain Centre for Volunteers in collaboration with the General Organisation for Youth and Sport (Goys).

It aims to encourage a clean environment and encourage youth to volunteer and participate during their summer holiday, said project co-ordinator Mohammed Al Dashti.

"There are tonnes of used paper thrown out every day from various companies and offices," he said.

"The idea is to recycle the paper collected from various companies and offices."

Mr Al Dashti said that they had put up advertisements and contacted various organisations to provide them with discarded paper.

"We saw a good response and the amount of paper we received reached up to five tonnes," he said.

"The only cost involved is the equipment we use, like shredders and blenders."

He said that the recycling process was very simple and it would start with cutting up the paper in the shredder.

"The shredded paper would then be placed into a blender to further cut into smaller pieces," said Mr Al Dashti.

"The paper would then be mixed with water and wood chippings and eventually turned into paste."

He said that the paste would then be kept on a net and dried in the sun.

"The recycled paper would then be turned into boxes or greeting cards designed by the volunteers," he said.

A total of 80 volunteers, aged between 17 and 24, are participating.

"They will be honoured at a ceremony by the end of the month," said Mr Al Dashti.

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