Colleges generate copious amounts of paper in the form of memos, handouts, course packets, office and school paper, and more. Paper choices and distribution, copy machines, printers, and other technology that uses paper resources are all factors in paper generation on campus. Campus printing departments are a key area where use of environmentally friendly products and practices can make a huge impact in waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability.

Forming alliances within the Campus Printing Department is critical in closing the loop within a campus recycling effort. After all, college recycling programs collect more paper than any other item. By purchasing recycled content paper, the campus is supporting the demand for collected recycled materials, a vital piece in ensuring the long-term viability of a college recycling effort.

Here are some ideas to reduce campus impact through printing practices:

• Create a recycled paper policy (see example below) that requires the campus to utilize post consumer recycled content paper, elemental chlorine free, and tree free papers. Some campus policies go so far as to put a surcharge on neon and heavily dyed papers (which contain heavy metals and are toxic to produce and recycle). These policies also specify ½ sheet and double-sided copies as the default for all orders unless otherwise specified.
• Establish a short list of contacts within various offices around campus so that departments get small amounts of fliers, announcements, etc. to be shared around the office instead of one per employee. Encourage departments to set up a centrally located bulletin board for these postings.
• Create a campus “stop the junk mail” postcard that can be ordered through the printing department. These postcards should have text on them requesting removal from mailing lists, a place to tape the mailing label, and room on the flip side for the address of whatever company is being asked to stop the mailing. College campuses receive hordes of unsolicited off-campus mail. This material is expensive for the college to process and deliver. Junk/bulk mail creates significant amounts of trash and paper recycling, which also have associated costs. The “stop the junk mail” card has been successful on many campuses and thus has saved money in labor, handling, and disposal.
• Encourage the University Printing Department to offer elemental chlorine-free, recycled, and tree free papers. Establish contracts that encourage printing campus stationary and business cards on environmentally friendly paper. Assist the printing department in promoting the use of these papers to create campus-wide demand.                     
• Research paper buying cooperatives that can save money for schools looking to purchase environmentally friendly papers. Work with neighboring schools and governments to partner on paper purchasing.
• There are great non-toxic soy based and vegetable inks available for use in the printing process.  Many colleges have been considering this option. Inks and dyes used for paper are some of the most toxic substances in our environment. These inks reduce the risk to workers and the environment while offsetting a past hazardous practice and creating compliance with the Clean Air Act. Additionally, all campuses have to consider hazardous material disposal costs. Purchasing environmentally friendly inks and dyes eases waste management budget pressures.
• Encourage creation of online ordering for on-campus printing orders. Colleges process thousands of orders for printing and copying. On-line ordering saves paper (usually in triplicate) as well as other hassles.
• Remember to work with Printing and Copying Departments to ensure a maximum recycling effort. There is valuable pre and post-consumer paper that can be recovered from these areas.

There are many other opportunities for reduction of both toxic chemical use and waste generation within printing departments. Image processing, plate processing, cleaning, and use of fountain solutions can be very toxic processes. The good news is that there is an increasing amount of non-toxic alternatives and new systems on the market to help alleviate environmental impacts through environmentally preferable purchasing.

Build alliances with campus Printing Departments as they are the foot in the door on waste prevention, recycling, environmentally friendly purchasing, toxic materials reduction, and campus sustainability.

Sample Recycled Paper Policy

It is the policy of the University of                 to purchase and use recycled paper products in its operations in accordance with Executive Order No.          , dated              . This policy requires the purchase and use of paper products made from recycled materials when such products are of a quality to satisfy applicable specifications, are available in the desired preferential rules of the State of                        Model Public Contract Manual.

Any University of                        request for bids or quotes for purchase of paper products, including authorized printing from outside vendors, shall include a solicitation of bids or quotes for recycled paper and papers that have not been bleached with chlorine or other hazardous materials. No specification shall require the use of paper products made exclusively from virgin materials, nor specifically exclude the use of recycled paper or tree-free products, as provided in                     State statutes.

University Printing Services shall have the authority to specify the minimum recycled content standard in bid solicitations to accomplish the purpose of this policy. The default for all office equipment that uses paper, such as copiers, printers and fax machines, shall be set to reflect these specifications, and be in compliance with the State of __________                     policy guidelines. Every effort will be made to eliminate excessive or unnecessary paper use. Strategies for doing so include, but are not limited to:

• Electronic mail or other paperless communication
• Double-side copying
• Half-sheets of paper for all brief, printed, on-campus communications
• Short distribution and targeted mailing lists to reduce volume

In accordance with the guidelines stated above in this policy, the official stationery program as shown in Graphic Style of the University of                   shall be determined by the Office of University Publications and University Printing Services, with approval by the Environmental Issues Committee. The use of heavily dyed paper or paper which requires special handling for recycling will be subject to additional charges.

Resources

Conservatree (Guide to Environmentally Sound Papers)
http://www.conservatree.com/paper/Choose/PaperSelection.shtml 

Gans Ink and Supply Company
http://www.gansink.com/ 

Living Tree Paper
http://www.livingtreepaper.com/ 

Paper Recycling Coalition
http://www.paperrecyclingcoalition.com/recycled/ 

Safety Kleen
http://www.safety-kleen.com/Pages/Default.aspx

 Reach for Unbleached (RFU)
http://www.rfu.org/

 The Recycled Products Cooperative
http://www.recycledproducts.org/ 

Xerox Green World Alliance
http://www.office.xerox.com/perl-bin/product.pl?mode=recycling

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