Copy
Today's Date: 02/01/16

February 2016 Newsletter

Paper, paper everywhere! This month we're focusing on ways to make the most of our paper products at the office and at home.
 

Recycle, reduce, reuse paper

(Photo credit: Flickr/Raw Paw)

Office blue bins, the annual Shred Fest, and interoffice envelopes are some of the many ways you can recycle, reduce, and reuse paper at work.

Paper products account for a large part of the materials recycled at the University. On campus and at home, you can recycle most clean paper products, including window envelopes, flattened cardboard boxes (clean pizza boxes too!), books (hard and soft cover), and much more

However, presently you cannot recycle plates, napkins, paper cups, or paper towels. The good news? Each ton of paper we do recycle saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity (EPA, 2008).
 

Use technology and online tools

(Photo credit: Flickr/grover_net)

University IT offers several ways to reduce intra- and inter-office paper consumption. Examples include:
  • Collaboration tools such as SharePoint (a web-based tool that lets teams work together using team sites, document publishing, wikis, and forums) and Blackboard (a learning management system that gives students access to syllabi, course materials, grades, and more).
  • Servers, shared networks, and other storage options that allow individuals and departments to back up their files electronically.
  • Printing kiosks and printer/copier settings that can be set for black-and-white and/or double-sided printing.
Check the University IT website or contact your department's IT administrator for more information.
 

Opt for digital reading material

(Photo credit: Flickr/mobilyazilar)

E-books, audiobooks, online magazines... There are lots of non-paper options available for the sustainability-inclined reader. The University of Rochester's libraries and the Monroe County Library System have numerous digital titles and archives available for borrowing or perusing.

Although nothing can replace the feel of a favorite old book or your morning newspaper, occasionally choosing digital reading material can help decrease paper-related clutter in your office and home.

Need interoffice envelopes or folders?

Share the office-supply love!

(Photo credit: Flickr/Tony Webster)

At our first Green Hour event in September, Green Rep Amy Crosby proclaimed herself the queen of interoffice envelopes and Pendaflex folders. She's willing to share her abundant supply, so feel free to contact her.

Your Green Reps Challenge for February

As your department's Green Rep, try to implement at least one of these action items in your area this month:
  1. Try going paper-free at an upcoming meeting. For example, instead of printing out agendas for each person, you could project the agenda on a screen or write it out on a whiteboard.
  2. Set printers and copiers to print double-sided by default. Check with your team or department before making any changes to shared devices, but you can enable this setting on your own personal printer at the office and at home.
  3. Download, print, and display a recycling poster in your classroom, break room, conference room, office, or other shared space. When the time comes to dispose of it, be sure to place it in a blue bin.
Forward to Friend

Copyright © University of Rochester, All rights reserved.

The Compost is produced by University Communications and the Green Reps Working Group. It is emailed monthly to Green Reps at the University of Rochester. View issues online at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/greenreps. Direct feedback and questions to greenreps@rochester.edu.

unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences