Everybody uses paper, but recycled paper is scarcely used. The
computer age's promise of the paperless office never happened.
In fact, the internet and electronic devices have contributed
to an increased consumption with the ease of printing and copier
services. Since reducing paper consumption involves modifying
behavior, the first step should be recycling paper and buying
recycled paper products.
Recycled paper makes use of the vast supply of waste paper
created every day in American offices, copy centers, and computer
labs. Using paper waste, keeps it out of landfills and incinerators,
and creates an efficient method of recycling natural resources.
Why Buy Recycled?
Even with the growth of electronic communication in business
and higher education, the use of copy paper continues to grow.
The American Forest & Paper Association reports that the
paper industry distributed 1.7 million tons of office paper
in 1982. By 1997, that amount soared to 4.6 million
tons. According to a Worldwatch Institute report, the
average American office worker now uses about 12,000 sheets
of paper per year. Unfortunately, a majority of this paper
ends up in landfills rather than being recycled.
Buying recycled paper is one step that can alleviate this
paper problem. The other steps necessary for paper sustainability
include reducing and reusing paper. Reducing,
reusing and recycling paper not only benefits the environment,
but can also help cut institutional costs associated with
paper consumption.
(See http://aesop.rutgers.edu/~enviro/student_paper_tips.htm)
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Buy Recycled Paper
NJDEP Paper Retailers List
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/recyclenj/paper.htm
WasteCap of Massachusetts
376 Boylston
Street, Suite 303
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 236-7715
(617) 236-7141 fax
Kevin C. Dutt
kevin@wastecap.org
New Leaf Paper
www.newleafpaper.com
185 Varick Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10014
Tel 212.645.5252, ext. 117
fax 212.645.2304
Michael Peek
VP Sales Northeast
michael@newleafpaper.com
State of New Jersey
Department of Treasury
Distribution & Support Services
P.O. Box 234
162 Stuyvesant Ave.
Trenton, NJ. 08625
609-530-3300
Joanne Cosse
Joanne.Cosse@treas.state.nj.us
Greg Barber Company
http://www.gregbarberco.com
330 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10021
(516) 413-9207
info@gregbarberco.com
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Recycled Paper: Price and Performance
The two most frequently asked questions about using recycled
paper are; is recycled paper more expensive? And, does it
work?
Price
The answer to the first question is yes and no. Yes, 30%
post-consumer waste paper is competitive with virgin paper.
When ordering in large quantities, as the State of New Jersey
Department of Treasury does (see Where to Buy Recycled Paper),
the price can actually be less than virgin paper.
Any recycled paper higher than 30% pcw begins to increase
in price. At
this point, 100% is more expensive than 30% and virgin.
However, this is the most environmentally preferable
alternative- paper from paper and not from trees.
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Performance
Recycled paper works!
New Jersey, along with most other states, local government
entities and the federal government mandate the use of recycled
products, including recycled paper.
A number of schools, such as Drew University, have
been using 30% recycled paper throughout their campuses.
The United States Government Printing Office (GPO) has done
extensive performance testing on a number of 30%, 60% and
100% recycled papers.
For a list of the brand name papers GPO has tested
contact ssubt@gpo.gov
Also see,
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/03/02243.pdf
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FAQS
Q: Do I have to revmove staples from paper before recycling?
A: No, metal staples do not need to be removed from paper.
Magnets, screens, and filters are used to remove steel staples
during the pulping process at the paper mill.
Q: Can glossy fax paper be recycled?
A: No, glossy fax paper (or thermal fax paper) has a
chemical coating on it (which gives it that funny smell) which
cannot be recycled. You can utilize the same plain paper as
your copier or laser printer with a plain paper fax machine.
Q: How many times can paper be recycled?
A: The paper industry generally says paper can be recycled
eight times. Each time paper is pulped, its fibers get shorter.
Very fine mesh screens separate these pulps so they do not get
made into new paper.
Q: Can I recycle the ream wrapper from copier paper?
A: Generally no, unless stated on the package. Ream wrappers
for copy paper usually have a thin layer of plastic film between
the outer layers of paper, which makes them non-recycleable.
Q: Can padded mailing envelopes be put in the recycling bin?
A: There are two kinds. The bubble padded kind with plastic
inside cannot be recycled. The fiber filly type with shredded
newspapers inside can be recycled in an paper recycling bin.
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General Information
Conservatree
http://www.conservatree.com
TreeCycle
http://treecycle.com
EPA Buy
Recycled Series: Paper Products
Center
for a New Dream's Buying Recycled Paper Info
The Recycled Products
Purchasing Cooperative- Recycled Paper for the Right Price
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