Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Green Choices Wednesday

                          This?......................... or this?



                           This?.......................... or this?

(Click on photos to enlarge.)
More and more people are getting into paper recycling.  That's great!  There is also a growing awareness that, even if all paper is recycled (which it isn't), reducing unnecessary use of paper is environmentally beneficial.  Reducing use reduces demand, which reduces consumption of resources, energy use, and pollution that result from the production and distribution chain.  Many people are using paper twice before recycling! Doing this could greatly reduce paper use, proportionally reducing the environmental effects.
 
The photos above illustrate what I've been doing in my office.  Instead of using post-it notes and pads, I use the back sides of printed pages, making homemade "pads" of two sizes by cutting the 8 1/2" x 11" sheets into quarters or eighths, and keeping together with a binder clip. If a note just has to stick to something, a very small peice of tape works well.

As an alternative to consuming new resources, consider ways to use existing resources a second time! 
Then recycle!
 
Think Green; Live Green!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great idea!

Vern said...

Thanks, Kate!

Teniah Ashlyn said...

Nice blog! Something I will definitely keep in mind once school starts...I'm a bit of a sticky-note freak, but I always recycle them after use. I will have to consider this as an alternative. Thanks for the post.

Vern said...

Teniah, I used to write everything on the sticky notes! As I heard about other people "re-using," it made me think about opportunities to do things a little differently.

Thanks!

Heather said...

I've been doing that for years! I dig through the recycling bin and use scrap paper to make my to-do lists, take phone messages, etc.

I also use envelopes to make my grocery list - reuse an envelope from a bill!

Vern said...

Hi Heather,
Yes, envelopes make great paper for lists! The re-use possibilities are vast!

This post used an office example, where there is an abundance of one-side-printed-on 8 1/2 x 11. We keep a paper recycle basket at home, too. Into it go junk mail, envelopes, the paper from wrapped products, little boxes that products come in, the little tubes from inside TP rolls, etc, etc... but envelopes are among the handiest for lists or scratch paper!

Thanks for adding to the dialog, and thanks for being green!

kara said...

And I always, always print on both sides.
Enjoy reading your tips - thanks : )

Vern said...

Kara, printing both sides is another good idea! Our main networked printers at my workplace print two sided. I always use that feature when I need to print. I also try not to print anything that I just don't really need a paper copy. Both sides is doable on home printers, too, but not quite as easy, requiring printing one page at a time, turning the paper over, and re-feeding.

Thanks for the printing idea, and for living green!

A Plain Observer said...

I cut paper we have used to make unnecessary copies into pads. I use them as scrap paper. Works great

Vern said...

Works great, and is such an easy way to conserve resources! Thanks, Myriam!