Friday, March 29, 2024

Recycle U

All departments should switch to recycled paper

University departments should switch to using 100 percent recycled paper.

The philosophy and supply chain management departments recently began using chlorine-free, 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper on a trial basis. This came after convincing from ECO, an MSU student environmental group.

ECO has been working since the beginning of the semester to switch all of the university departments to 100 percent recycled paper. Thirty percent recycled paper is commonly used in university departments. The group hopes to have all departments using 100 percent recycled paper by the end of the semester.

MSU’s library copy centers and coin-operated copy machines across campus have been using 100 percent recycled paper for more than a year. So far, no problems have been reported.

ECO should be commended for pushing for this change. Protecting the environment is important and ECO and groups like it should continue to push for more environmentally friendly policies and practices.

The philosophy and supply chain management departments and the library should also be applauded for trying out the paper. They have set a precedent in the university by stepping up and taking action. Other university departments should follow their example and at least give the paper a chance.

Changing to the paper would not increase costs for departments. The 100 percent recycled paper is available in university stores for the same price as other, lower recycled-content papers. If the department can do its part helping the environment without hurting its budget, why not?

The MSU Office of Recycling and Waste Management collects about 1.3 tons of white office paper a day for recycling. The material for the paper is there and should be used to its full potential. Although using 30 percent recycled paper is more environmentally friendly than non-recycled paper, it is still wasteful.

The departments that have been using the paper haven’t reported any significant decrease in quality in the paper. The 100 percent recycled paper is slightly lighter and thinner, and tends to be more opaque than other paper. However, the departments have not deemed these factors as big problems thus far.

The loss in quality is minimal, especially compared to the benefits gained by helping the environment. If trees can be spared because of more widespread use of the paper, what difference does it make if the paper is a little thinner?

There is really no reason for university departments not to switch to 100 percent recycled paper. It benefits the environment without damaging budgets. It provides a use for the enormous amount of paper brought in for recycling each day with a minimal sacrifice in quality.

Other university departments should follow the example set by the philosophy and supply chain management departments and the library, and switch to using 100 percent recycled paper.

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