1995
Professor Ken Laws spoke about the magnitude of paper use on campus at a Faculty Meeting and called for the formation of a committee to address the issue.
Response to Ken's Letter:
- Networked computer system
- Different email groups to disseminate information
- Establishment of the “News You Can Use” environmental information column
Report to the President- Recommendations on how to address paper usage on campus .
• Limit campus announcements to campus news outlets- an effort to eliminate all campus mailing
• Reduce publication frequency and distribution of campus news outlets and transition to an electronic medium
• Staff training on paper reduction- double sided printing, half page memos, recycling, etc.
• Report to the President - Recommendations on the 3 R's ~ reduce, reuse, recycle, focusing on paper use but with more specific recommendations.
• Reduce number of campus newspaper copies and frequency of publications- specific recommendations for all campus mailings, large group mailings, random bulk mailings, copy machines, plain paper fax machines, campus networking, and individual initiatives.
• Reuse – educate the community about double sided printing or using printed paper as scrap paper. A strong recommendation to purchase products with high recycled content
• Recycling- educate the community about the advanced recycling system in place, especially when it comes to paper usage
• Researched paper use (Overprinting of packets and advertising, noted that recommendations made in regards to paper use were not adopted)
Talked about creating a recycling coordinator position
1996
Idea of charging for copies discussed
Double-sided printing is available on most copiers
1998
Campus becomes networked, allowing for paperless dissemination of information
Email lists are advertised as a paperless form of communication
2002
30% post-consumer waste paper used all over campus
2006
Several new double-sided printers are purchased for various departments, virtually slicing most paper usage in half.
2007
Printers are set to print double-sided by default.
