How to Save Paper in School

Ask for donations. Local businesses often have reams of unused paper goods that might include outdated letterhead, envelopes of the wrong size and old signs. Ask companies in your neighborhood or your parents' places of business to donate these paper goods to your school. (In many cases, it's tax-deductible!)

Ask your school to buy recycled or alternative paper products. Besides being better for the environment, recycled paper products can be less expensive, too. You can also find products made from non-tree sources such as hemp, bamboo, banana, kenaf and crushed stone.

Advocate for page-flipping catalogs. Ask your administration to forgo product catalogs and purchase supplies from companies that have websites or page-flipping catalogs and online ordering. Encourage your school to eliminate paper promotional materials and put all newsletters and catalogs online themselves.

Use notebooks and tablets wisely. You can purchase notebooks made from recycled paper. Once you do, go a few steps further in your paper-saving efforts and use both sides of the paper. Write smaller (but still large enough for you to read what you've written) and avoid leaving a lot of white space on the page.

• Don't do silly things with paper such as passing notes, making airplanes or spitballs or throwing it at your classmates' heads. These activities are both paper-wasting and trouble-making.

Request individual white boards. Rather than work out math equations or create brainstorm lists or do other in-class activities on paper, students could use small white boards with ultra low-odor dry-erase markers. Some marker brands are even made from recycled materials and are refillable, too.

Think outside the classroom. Paper products are used in the kitchen, cafeteria and restrooms at school, so strategies for reducing paper waste should take these areas into account as well.^[4]

• Be sure your school is buying napkins, paper towels and bathroom tissue made from recycled paper.
• Lobby for hand dryers instead of paper towels.
• Post reminder "These Come From Trees" stickers on napkin and paper towel dispensers to help remind people to reduce unnecessary use.

Get across-the-board involvement. A successful recycling program depends on the support of students, teachers, staff, administrators and custodians. Form a committee that's made up of individuals from each of these populations to develop a program that takes into account everyone's needs and addresses everyone's concerns.

• Designate one person as the representative for each group so that they can explain the need for recycling to their peers and ask for their support. They can also help communicate program developments and changes and be the "point person" for questions that arise.

Determine paper pickup. In some cities, paper recycling is the law and collected paper will be picked up on scheduled trash days. In other locations, you'll need to find a drop-off point or pick-up service to take your paper. The website Earth911 has a search feature that allows you find recycling services in your area. You can also search online to find a local materials recovery center or recycling drop-off center and see if they'll accept your paper.

• If you can't find a drop-off center for your paper, you may have to explore paying for a pick-up service to haul it away. Research costs associated with this to be sure if will ultimately benefit your school.

Set guidelines for acceptable paper. Depending on how and where you'll dispose of your recycled paper, you may have to limit or separate what you collect. Some collection locations will accept "single stream," meaning a variety of paper grades mixed in one collection box, or they'll want "sorted stream" drop-offs, meaning you'll need to separate papers by grades (there are five basic paper grade types.) Certain types may not be accepted at all. Find out what and how your collection agency takes and structure your program accordingly.^[5]

• Old corrugated containers. Also known as “corrugated cardboard,” this kind of paper is typically found in boxes and product packaging.
• Mixed paper. This broad category includes things like mail, catalogs, phone books and magazines.
• Old newspapers. The name of this category says it all.
• High grade de-inked paper. Your school will undoubtedly have the most of this kind of paper, which includes things such as envelopes, copy paper and letterhead.
• Pulp substitutes. This paper is usually discarded scraps from mills, so it's unlikely you'll have to worry about it, although there's always a chance that it could be a part of paper products your school buys.

Secure collection boxes. See if your local recycling center can provide you with collection boxes; otherwise, purchase some plastic tubs to serve the purpose. Keep them all the same color and/or clearly mark them as paper collection boxes so that no one accidentally puts garbage in them.

• If you must sort your paper, use labels or images of the kinds of paper that should be deposited into each different box.

Provide education. Not only do you need everyone on board for your program to be a success, but everyone should be well informed and clear as to how the program works. Consider asking environmental science or social studies instructors to devote a class period to discussing the guidelines of the recycling program. Or plan to have educational assemblies for explaining the program, including information about what kind(s) of paper is being accepted and the location of the collection bins.^[6]

• Create a reference card with information about the program to distribute to everyone in the school. Or, to save paper, create a web site or page on your school's site where everyone can reference program guidelines.

Chose a central location for paper storage. You'll need a place where you can store the collected paper between recycling drop offs or pick ups. The copy machine room may be a good choice or perhaps a section of a large storage closet.

• Put safety first and do not allow large piles of paper to block exits or be stored near flammable chemicals. Check with your local code enforcement office to make certain you're in compliance with all applicable building and fire codes.

Keep enthusiasm high. Once your recycling program is off the ground, keep people excited about it by reporting on it's progress and recycling and savings goals you meet.

• Make weekly or monthly announcements over the PA system or via your school's closed circuit television of the amount of paper that's been recycled to date. Remind everyone of the importance of maintaining the program and use the opportunity to clarify any confusion and address any questions or concerns that have been raised.
• Plan field trips to your local recycling center or invite guest speakers to come to your school to discuss the value of a recycling program and its positive financial and environmental impact.