No sorry news paper has chemicals and inks.
Eco earth is not that expensive and only needs to be replaced once a month if that.
spot clean like cat litter and if you add a cleaning crew like spring tails that will
help.
Live plants also help.

The best way to know when to do a complete clean out is to use your nose.
If it starts to smell funky then it is time.

As for the lights you just have to be careful of any thing that you set it on top of that could melt.
that is why I would use CFL bulbs they don't get hot enough to melt plastic.
But heat lamps do.