Buy chlorine free paper; recycle and reuse paper


Problem: Chlorine used in the paper industry can be a major pollutant of water and air, and is often implicated in dioxin formations. Paper processing is a major consumer of water. To understand the impact of paper you and the University use go to this calculator website: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/papercalculator/. The State of California also encourages paper reduction and awareness of impact: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Paper/ChlorineFree/Default.htm

Photo: Paper
Several reams of clean paper, clips and folders salvaged from drafts of one book

Solution: Purchase recycled paper with high recycled content using chlorine-free processing, or re-use single sided paper collected from drafts or overprinting.

Benefits: You will save the purchase price of reams of virgin or recycled paper. Collecting and reusing single-sided paper saves 200-600 ml water per sheet.

Costs: There may be some additional up front costs. The paper is indistinguishable from standard paper. Collecting used paper takes a simple set-up in a centralized location such as a copier station or computer room.