Going Green

Tips to use less paper

Bookmark a page instead of printing it, when working on the computer
When printing – print double sided (print on both sides of paper)
Reuse the blank sides of paper for notes, grocery lists, print-outs at home
When purchasing paper, make sure it has the maximum recycled content
Opt to receive bills and statements electronically
Eliminate Junk Mail:

Call catalogs to be removed from the mailing list and use the store’s websiteinstead.

Stop Direct Mail and other offers: http://www.101-creditreport.com/optout.htm

Bring you own mug to Coffee Hour

A couple facts on disposable coffee cups: (from http://sustainabilityissexy.com/facts.html)

Disposable paper coffee cups aren’t made from recycled paper. Instead, most cups are manufactured using 100% bleached virgin paperboard. Why? FDA regulations are strict when it comes to allowing recycled paper pulp to be in direct contact with food and beverages and recycled paper isn’t strong enough to hold a liquid.

During manufacturing, cups are laminated with a plastic resin called polyethylene to help keep beverages warm and prevents the paper from absorbing liquids and leaking. The plastic also prevents the cup from being recycled. Every paper cup that is manufactured and coated with plastic resin ends up in a landfill. Once in a landfill, the paper will begin to decompose. This process releases methane, a greenhouse gas with 23 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide.

The process involved with manufacturing paper cups is extremely resource intensive and requires a substantial amount of water, energy… and a lot of trees.

Recycling Information

Freecycle.org – grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Earth911.com – information on where to recycle everything from metal clothes hangers to musical instruments

Electronics (including ink cartridges and rechargeable batteries)