| Each
20 cases of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 390 gallons of
oil, 7000 gallons of water, and 4100 kwh of energy. It also
eliminates 60 pounds of air-polluting emissions and saves
8 cubic feet of landfill space. That's a BIG benefit to receive
for changing to a product that is as good (or better) than
the product you use now!
It is no accident that the symbol for recycling
is a circle of arrows. The three arrows of the recycling symbol
indicate a loop, or continuous cycle. The paper recycling
process includes collecting waste paper for recycling, reusing
products (such as using the blank side for notes), and purchasing
new paper products made from recycled content.
By using recycled content products, you are
"closing the loop," or completing the circle. This
is especially important for the paper industry, since 36%
of the average landfill is comprised of paper. Americans discard
4 million tons of office paper each year, enough to build
a 12-foot wall from Los Angeles to New York City.
With 95% of our native forests in the U.S.
gone, and only 3.9% of California's old growth redwoods remaining,
a change is in order. Reusing and recycling materials are
only part of the effort needed to reduce the strain on environmental
resources. Consumers must also purchase goods created from
recycled materials in order to complete the circle.
Dispelling the Myths:
Is recycled paper high quality?
In 1998, a consortium of copier manufacturers
and printers conducted a test to see how well recycled paper
performed in printers, copiers, and other office equipment.
Canon USA Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Lexmark International
Inc., and the U.S. Government Printing Office tested paper
with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content-the standard
set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use by
Federal agencies and contractors.
The verdict: Not only does recycled content
paper often meet or exceed the quality standards of virgin
paper, it works without complications in office equipment.
Can I buy bright white recycled paper?
Recycled paper is available in a wide range
of colors, weights, and styles, including the brightest whites.
Recycled content paper is capable of meeting the purity and
brightness requirements of businesses and professionals. Newer
techniques and the demand for quality paper, have created
a market capable of producing the brightest whites.
It is recommended, however, that you avoid
bright white paper when possible. The bleaching of paper,
whether virgin or recycled, is the leading cause of toxic
water pollution in the United States.
Chlorine, used in the bleaching process, is
a byproduct of an extremely toxic family of chemicals known
as dioxins. Dioxins are linked to several human health conditions
including genetic abnormalities, cancer, and reproductive
disorders. The toxins are equally poisonous to plant and aquatic
life. The pulp and paper industry is the leading contributor
of dioxins to waterways.
You can further enhance your environmental
impact by purchasing chlorine-free recycled paper. Chlorine-free
paper's quality is exceptional; it simply has not been subjected
to the bleaching process. The more unbleached paper purchased,
the fewer toxins in our water.
Getting Started:
Are you ready to make buying recycled paper a habit in your
office or home?
1. When you buy paper, look for packaging
that displays the chasing arrows within a circle. This indicates
that the paper contains recycled content. The symbol is often
confused with the chasing arrows symbol, which simply indicates
that a product may be recycled.
2. Look for the highest percentage of post-consumer
content in the paper. Post-consumer indicates the amount of
waste paper collected from consumers and reprocessed. Higher
percentages are better. By buying paper with more post-consumer
content, you are sending a message to the manufacturer that
will encourage the reclamation and use of more recycled materials.
Pre-consumer waste that may be used in recycled paper includes:
paper trimmings from the paper mill and printer, and printed
materials that never reach the consumer.
3. Be careful! The words "environmentally
friendly," "safe for the environment," and
"natural," do not indicate that the product is recycled
or made from recycled materials.
Copy
Paper - Printer Paper | Why
Buy Recycled Paper? | Recycled
Copy Paper | Give
A Gift To The Environment |
Pre-Printing:
Best Results and Precautions |
Carbonless
Paper | Paper:
Quality Tested | Choosing
the Right Paper |
The
Creation of the Copier
| Disadvantages
of a Laser Printer
| Are
You Ready for a Paperless Office? |
