Paper Waste Busters

Be a Paper Waste Buster! 
Did you know that CPS used 258,000,000 sheets of copy paper during fiscal year 2007?  That’s nearly 6,000 sheets for every employee, and enough, stacked up, to reach the top of the Sears Tower SIX times.  Central Office departments used over 21,000,000 sheets of paper.

CPS Central Office and its Green Team launched Paper Waste Busters to reduce our paper use and switch to recycled paper.  Each one of us can help the environment every day by taking simple steps to cut back on paper.  Paper reduction saves your department money, as well.

Environmental Impact
We all know that paper production saves trees, but that’s not all. Our 258 million sheets of paper used about 30,000 trees, created as much greenhouse gas as 650 cars, and generated enough dirty water to fill 36 Olympic-sized pools.

Paper Waste Buster Goals

• Reduce paper use by 20 percent over six months
• Switch to 35% and 100% recycled paper

Compete for Prizes and Rewards!
Central Office departments can compete to win prizes for:

• Highest percent reduction of copy paper
• Greatest total reduction of copy paper
• Highest recycled content of copy paper
• Best innovation in reduction

Prizes include Office Depot gift cards for your department. Initial results are in; click here to find out how you are doing.

Paper Waste Busters competition runs January to June 2008.  Departmental paper purchases will be compared to your average purchases over the past 18 months.

HOW CAN I BE A PAPER WASTE BUSTER?

Reduce

• Think twice before printing, and print only what you need
• Stop printing emails, drafts, web pages, and background materials
• Share, edit, and store documents electronically, including meeting materials
• Archive emails and attachments electronically to your documents folder Learn how here.
• Print and copy double-sided whenever possible
• Before printing:
• Preview to take out blank pages, adjust margins, and reduce font size
• Make sure it’s set to double-sided (and set your computer default to two-sided)
• Print PowerPoint slides and other images with 4 to 6 items on a page
• Print only the pages you need, not a whole document
• Reduce the number of reports, copies, mailings, and receipts generated by your department
• Use a multifunction printer/copier to encourage reduction and track usage
• Call 3-EXCL if your devices needs to be set up to run double-sided

Reuse

• Reuse one-sided paper: set up a dedicated printer or drawer for it and use it to print drafts
• Use scratch paper for notes
• Reuse inter-office envelopes, file folders, foam board, and other office supplies.  Return these supplies to central supply areas for others to use

Purchase

• Stop Red, Go Green:  Purchase 35% Green Top or 100% recycled paper.  35% recycled paper saves one tree every five cases, and has a new low price of $31 (Office Depot sku 647-656).  Plus, Office Depot gives rebates on recycled products that we give to schools as Recycling Reward$ gift cards!
• Use the Office Depot Green Book to order more eco-friendly supplies and generate more Recycling Rewards. 

Recycle

• Recycle unusable paper, cardboard, and beverage containers.  See CPS Recycling Guide.
• Keep trash and plastic packaging out of recycling bins
• Follow proper retention and disposal policies for student records and business records.

Engage

• Become a Paper Waste Buster Leader.  Leaders will receive training and encouragement to help bust paper in their department and a special gift for their desk.  See who is a leader here or contact scarlson@cps.k12.il.us or 773-553-1482 to sign up.
• Learn more about CPS environmental initiatives here.

Projected Results

Central Office’s current impact, and the Paper Waste Busters savings, are shown here.  Help us lead by example and reduce your impact:

			Central Office 6 month baseline		Central Office 6-month Waste Busters		Savings from Campaign
		Trees	156 tons		113 tons		28%	301 trees
		Total Energy	1,861 million BTU's		1,439 million BTU's		23%	5 homes/year
		Greenhouse Gases	278,289 lbs CO2 equiv.		216,632 lbs CO2 equiv.		22%	6 cars/year
		Waste Water	922,641 gallons		711,402 gallons		23%	< 1 swimming pool
		Solid Waste	109,721 pounds		84,276 pounds		23%	1 garbage truck

Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Paper Calculator. For more information visit http://www.papercalculator.org.

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