“An experiment of recycling paper with the use of banana peelings to

reduce solid waste”

Paula Relova
Kreesthea Dedal
Iris Macalla
Vincent Eltagonde
Earl John Villamor
 Abstract

According to De Gruyter, “Cooking banana or plantains processing industry is

generating enormous amount of waste in the form of unripe banana peel at one place”. So in
order to manage the wastes banana peels brings and to somehow reduce these, the researches
came up with an idea of creating a banana paper from banana fibers that are found in banana
peels and some used papers and other materials like glue, and water by blending it in a
blender and letting it dry under the sun. We had an objective to make a durable and eco-
friendly paper.

The researchers conducted two experiments wherein in the first one, they used ripe
banana peels, newspapers, a larger amount of glue and water while in the second one, they
used green/unripe banana peels, used test papers, a smaller amount of glue and an equal
amount of water. The result showed that the first experiment was more durable than the
second one and the second one was easier to be torn apart than the first one.

After gathering the datas, the researchers then concluded that the larger amount of
glue it contains, the more durable it is but the result of the first experiment done was still
weak and is not that strong to be an effective paper. Because of this, the researchers later
assumed that their experiments was unsuccessful and it needs more improvement and further
more improvements means the product being more durable and less weaker. Despite the
experiment being unsuccessful because of its durability, the product can still be used as an
effective writing material.
1. Objectives

1.1 General Objective

Banana trees are cut down for fruits and products once a year. The trees that were cut
leave plenty of inevitable wastes that can contribute to pollution of the environment. The skin
of the banana fruit that is usually peeled off is also often regarded as waste to the
environment.
This project tests the idea of making use of the waste that bananas produce to
combine the banana peels with paper. This idea should at least help reduce the waste, and
create better and more durable paper.

1.2 Specific Objective

 Blend banana peels with paper to create better and more durable paper that is eco-
friendly.

2. Methodology

The researchers conducted a controlled experiment therefore, this study has two
variables namely; independent variable and dependent variable.

2.1 Independent Variable

The independent variables are the amount of banana peels, glue, water, and papers
that will be used.

2.2 Dependent Variable

The dependent variables are the durability of the banana paper and it, used as a
writing material.
3. Materials / Equipment

The materials the researchers used are 2/3 cup of banana peels from green(unripe)
and ripe banana, 1 cup of used paper/newspaper ,2 cups of water which softens the paper
and dillutes all the ingredients, 5-15ml of glue which makes the paper stick together, a
blender which blends the ingredients ,a dipper and lastly, a cloth which drains the water
from the paper mixture and a blender.

4. Procedure

Shred the papers and put a cup of the shredded papers into the blender. Next, place
2/3 cup of banana peels along with 2 cups of water and 5-15 ml of glue in the blender. Then,
Blend it and make sure that the materials mix well. After these, set it in a cloth and squeeze it
to drain the water from the mixture, you can use a dipper to catch the water squeezed from
the mixture.
Concluding that the water have drained, place down the mixture and spread it and
mold it until it has the image of a paper, it is better to compress it to flatten it even more

4.1 Flowchart

Place 1 cup of shredded

papers, 2/3 cup of Blend it, making sure
Shred the papers banana peels, 2 cups of that the materials mix
water and 5-15 ml of well
glue in the blender

Put the mixture in a Place down the mixture

cloth and squeeze it until and spread and mold it
the water that it until it obtain the image
contains drain up of a paper
 a) Experiment A

Place 1 cup of shredded

newspapers, 2/3 cup of Blend it, making sure
Shred the newspapers ripe banana peels, 2 that the materials mix
cups of water, 15 ml of well
glue in blender

Put the mixture in a Place down the mixture

cloth and squeeze it until and spread and mold it
the water that it until it obtain the image
contains drain up of a paper

b) Experiment B

Place 1 cup of shredded

used test papers, 2/3 cup
Blend it, making sure that
Shred the used test papers of green/unripe banana
the materials mix well
peels, 2 cups of water, 5 ml
of glue in blender

Put the mixture n a cloth Place down the mixture

and squeeze it until the and spreas and mold it until
water that it contains drain it obtain the image of a
up paper
5. Results and Discussion

5.1 Experiment A

The resulting paper’s texture was slightly rough, and its color was similar to peach.
It had many miniscule black particles mixed with the paper. It was shown to be writable
using writing materials such as pens.
For this particular experiment, the blended paper fully sticked onto a bowl container.
Because of this, some attributes of the produced paper were difficult to point out.

5.2 Experiment B

The appearance of the blended paper from this experiment was similar to the
appearance of the paper resulted from Experiment A. The only noticeable difference was
that the color of some particles was closer to purple.
The blended paper was not attached to anything in this experiment, therefore more
qualities were able to be pointed out. The durability of the paper was unexpectedly weak, and
it was easier to be torn apart compared to normal paper.

The experiments revealed that the banana paper that the researchers have produced
needs improvement in more aspects.
It has also been hypothesized from the experiments that adding silkscreen to the
produced banana paper may have drawn better results.

6. Findings

The results of the two experiment didn’t achieved the goal: make a durable paper
since both results showed the researchers weak durability.
Experiment A Experiment B

Figure 1 Figure 2

Table 1: Amount of Water used

Experiment A 2 cups
Experiment B 2 cups
Mean: 2

Table 2: Amount of Glue used

Experiment A 15 ml
Experiment B 5 ml
Mean: 10

Table 3: Paper used

Experiment A Newspapers
Experiment B Used Test Papers
 Table 4: Banana Peels used
Experiment A 2/3 cup of ripe banana peels
Experiment B 2/3 cup of green/unripe banana peels

Table 5: Durability
Experiment A 3
Experiment B 2
Legend: 5-very successful ; 4-successful; 3-neutral; 2-unsuccessful; 1-very unsuccessful

Mean: 2.5

7. Data Analysis

Experiment A is shown in Figure 1 wherein the researchers used 2/3 cup of ripe
banana peels and 1 cup of shredded newspapers with 15ml of glue, and 2 cups of water. We
can see the miniscule black particles mixed with the banana paper, just as what’s written in
the results. It’s durability was neutral but it was still weak and it’s not as strong as a normal
paper. We then concluded that this experiment was unsuccessful.
Experiment B is shown in Figure 2 wherein the researchers used 2/3 cup of green
banana peels and 1 cup of shredded used test papers with 5 ml of glue, and 2 cups of water. It
is actually pretty similar to the first figure only that this banana fiber was weaker and was
easier to be torn apart
Because of the data gathered, the researchers then concluded that the larger the
amount of glue in it, the greater the durability of the paper.

8. Conclusions

The researchers therefore conclude that this research was unsuccessful. One of the
reasons why it failed was the result of the experiment done was not durable and the product
produced was easier to tear apart than a normal paper. They also failed to achieve both
general and specific objectives. They initiated two experiments, for the first experiment they
used newspapers and riped banana peels while for the second experiment they used used
bondpapers and unriped banana peels (green banana peels). Although getting stuck at a bowl
container, the results lead to the first experiment having better results than the second
experiment.
 Despite the fact of the test being unsuccessful, the researchers concluded that further
more improvement could be made to make it more durable and that they have and are open
for recommendations in this study.

9. Recommendations

The researchers recommend to others, who will also conduct an experiment like this,
to seek for professional help and research furthermore. Use and apply different volume of
water, glue and banana peels. The researchers also recommend the use of silk screen and
banana fibers.
10. Bibliography
https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/bioeth.2015.2.issue-1/bioeth-2016-0011/bioeth-2016-
0011.xml
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160519082430.htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479717310587
https://www.organicauthority.com/buzz-news/bananas-are-the-biggest-food-waste-culprit-
new-study-shows
https://www.foodandwine.com/news/bananas-food-waste-supermarket
https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/war-on-waste-craig-reucassel-reveals-the-
shocking-truth-about-our-bananas/news-story/ddd59b65712f4649fc74b3f803520776