UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 15, Page 6
December 16, 1993
Campus recycling
'Postconsumer' paper

     Recycling is a two-pronged effort, according to Gail Armstrong,
University Publications manager. Not only should recyclable materials be
collected and reprocessed, a market should be created for recycled
materials, especially paper, through public demand.
     A "born-again" recycler after a presentation at a Council for
Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) meeting on the subject,
Armstrong learned there was much about recycling that she had not
understood and that the "made-of-recycled-paper" label in itself can be
misleading.
     Paper companies have used the word "recycled" to mean that any
leftover paper pulp after production, or manufacturing waste, is used for
the next batch, a process that was ongoing before recycling. The product
was essentially new paper, not truly recycled from waste paper, she
explained. The buzzword is postconsumer fiber and the new logo on recycled
paper should indicate the proportion of total recycled fiber and the
percentage of postconsumer fiber.
     To put her new-found knowledge and her long-standing convictions into
action, Armstrong has been working with suppliers to use genuinely recycled
or postconsumer recycled paper for items produced through the Publications
office, wherever feasible. A similar program is going on at the White
House, ordered by President Bill Clinton, she pointed out.
     Armstrong found a vendor with de-inked paper that contains a high
proportion of postconsumer fiber. She has ordered it for such office use as
proofs and for copying.
     "The paper handles well, is of good quality, works well with the laser
printer and is opaque. It is a very light and attractive gray, but
otherwise is no different from any other high-quality paper. Actually, it
has the advantage over white paper in that it does not yellow so it is good
for archival purposes," Armstrong said.
     "I feel strongly about using recycled paper. Although saving a tree is
important, the more serious problem is our landfills, which are rapidly
decreasing in number," she pointed out.
     The recycled paper will cost Publications only about $30 more a year.
If other offices order the paper, even that amount will decrease, Armstrong
said. The paper is available in "broken cartons" for smaller amounts.
     For more information on ordering recycled paper with a high percentage
of postconsumer fiber, call Armstrong at 831-2144 or Ruth Barrow, Central
Stores, at 831-2155.
                                                  -Sue  Swyers Moncure