WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ARCHIVE   BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX

23 Mar 99 - paper towels; office paper; green wedding reception; resource s ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------------------- >From David Allaway, Harding Lawson Associates, Portland, OR: Brian Foran's question (3/22/99 posting) about labels for paper towel dispensers got me thinking. I've heard at least one paper towel manufacturer claim that roll-type paper towel dispensers are more resource efficient than multi-folds, because you can control the size of the towel, it is hard for people to grab "extras" (depending on the type of dispenser), and you don't have poor stocking practices leading to extra towels coming loose and falling on the floor. On the flip side, roll paper towels have to be replaced, presumably before the roll runs out, unlike multi-folds that can be continually stocked. Does anyone know of any objective studies that have tried to document whether or not there are any real paper waste prevention savings by switching from multi-fold to paper roll towels? Thanks. E-mail: dallaway [AT] harding [DOT] com -------------------- >From Roger Guttentag, consultant and writer, Harleysville, PA: In response to Beth Eckl's 3/22/99 posting regarding using less paper: We need to recognize that paper has three enormous advantages over digital media: it provides physological stimuli that most people find pleasing, it is portable, and it doesn't need a power supply to work. We also should not ignore the influence of human factors that affect the digital reading experience. You can teach people every trick in the book on how to refrain from hitting the print icon but if sustained online / digital reading is not comfortable then they will still print out what they need and read it in a more preferred position. I suggest that you insure that everyone have at least a 17" (or better a 19") monitor and a well-designed work chair. This kind of office equipment will make anyone more productive in the long run. However, the drawback is that it is also more expensive. In response to Brian Foran's 3/22/99 posing on reducing paper towel usage: Why can't your restroom facilities be equipped with electric hand dryers? Alternatively, why don't you go to a local printer under contract to the California Integrated Waste Management Board that can do signs and have them make them using recycled-content materials you designate? What you're describing appears to be a very straight-forward graphics job where you can have more control over its design and message. E-mail: rgutten [ AT ] concentric [ DOT ] net -------------------- >From Judy Crockett, City of Portland (OR) Bureau of Environmental Services: On office paper reduction, we have been testing a template for letterhead paper here. It not only saves us having to print letterhead, and throw away outdated paper when addresses or department heads change, it should allow us to free up a drawer in the printer for drafts using paper that has already been printed on one side. On signs for reducing paper towel use: Oregon State University has stick-on signs saying "Paper = Trees Use Only What You Need" with a graphic of trees. It has been very effective in reducing paper use. E-mail: JudyC [ AT ] BES [ DOT ] CI [ DOT ] PORTLAND [ DOT ] OR [ DOT ] US --------------------- >From Ticiang Diangson, Seattle Public Utilities: Anybody got tips for a cheap, easy, environmentally light wedding reception? (I don't want to use paper plates, but I also don't want to rent/wash dishes or insist guests bring their own....) Is there help for this marriage? E-mail: Ticiang ( DOT ) Diangson ( AT ) ci ( DOT ) seattle ( DOT ) wa ( DOT ) us --------------------- The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality waste prevention website contains a number of resources (thanks to Brian Fuller for sending the link). The address for the site is: http://www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/wasteprev.html - end -