Cut Paper Consumption
Reducing the amount of paper products disposed of in the U.S. can not only save trees but also reduce the bulk of solid waste material in our landfills.
It’s easy to cut paper consumption in our daily lives and doing so will greatly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills. All it takes are some simple lifestyle changes you can adapt at home and at the office.
Recycling paper products like grocery bags, newspapers, and notebook paper will save tons of waste from going into landfills annualy.
Although more and more people do the bulk of their reading on the internet our paper consumption has continued to increase. Americans generated about 250 million tons of trash in 2011 (EPA 2011) and just over a quarter of that amount of waste was from paper & paperboard products alone. This accumulation of garbage ends up in our landfills and accounts for the second largest human-related producer of methane gas emissions.
Before making it’s way to our overburdened landfills let’s not forget the pollution generated by making paper and it’s many related products. The paper bleaching process is quite toxic and using chemicals that contain chlorine and releasing the deadly poison dioxin along the way.
Before it even reaches the paper mill our love of paper brings us closer to the end of more and more trees. Let’s look at books for a moment: yes we love them but there is much waste going on. The book industry alone has increased the number of books produced every year from 250,000 to a million. Then there is cardboard, pressboard furniture, lumber for building, etc. Until we come with alternative sources for making paper (how about hemp?) it seems the most ecological paper is not recycled, it’s not even paper at all, it’s your computer.
How can we cut paper consumption?
Consider sending emails instead of letters.
Instead of printing documents read them on your computer screen.
When printing, print onto both side of the paper or recycle one-sided pages by printing onto the backs. You can cut full sheets into quarters or halves to use for messages or notes.
Set up your service provider accounts and bills to be sent by email instead of receiving them as paper bills.
Use ceramic cups or travel mugs for drinking your coffee at work instead of paper cups and provide some for your clients as well.
Tear your paper towels or napkins in half when using and use rags or cloth towels whenever possible.
Expecting a baby? Consider using cloth diapers at least in combination with disposables. You can also find more environmentally friendly disposable diapers made without the use of chlorine toxins in health food stores or online.
Find creative alternative ways to wrap your gifts like using colorful scarfs and sarongs or recycling paper grocery bags and decorating yourself. This is especially fun for kids birthday presents.
If you do need to use paper products look for recycled paper that is not produced with chemical bleaches. Production requires 90-70% less energy than the production of plain paper.
Instead of purchasing new books utilize your public library or used book stores.
If you’re fortunate to have curbside pick up for paper recycling – use it! If not find a public place that will accept paper recycling – don’t wait for someone to do it for you – everyone has a personal responsibility for the garbage they produce.
Last but not least how to deal with junk mail – put a sticker on any junk mail you receive requesting that they stop sending to you.
You can cut paper consumption easily by trying even some of these user friendly suggestions and if you have more ideas please leave us a comment and share the wisdom!
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